When the PAP threatens / scares the citizens

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"If you don't vote PAP into Bukit Panjang, Bukit Panjang will rot." Brings back memories of how Potong Pasir and Aljunied was purposely neglected by PAP.

Singapore GE2020: Bukit Panjang to be managed by separate town councils if votes for two constituencies split

The PAP's Mr Liang Eng Hwa is battling the SDP's Professor Paul Tambyah for the Bukit Panjang seat.ST PHOTOS: JOEL CHAN, TIMOTHY DAVID
Tiffany Fumiko Tay

Cheow Sue-Ann

SINGAPORE - The People's Action Party (PAP) candidates running in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC will continue to take a team approach to town management if elected, with plans such as lift upgrading and improved connectivity in store.

They noted, however, that Bukit Panjang town will be served by separate town councils managed by different political parties if the PAP does not retain both constituencies in the general election.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa, who is battling the Singapore Democratic Party's (SDP) Professor Paul Tambyah for the Bukit Panjang seat, is tipped to be the next chairman of the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council if elected.

Parts of Bukit Panjang fall under Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, and the town council currently serves both constituencies.

But if Mr Liang does not win, Bukit Panjang SMC will be run by a separate town council, and there may be some differences that "residents can feel", said Ms Sim Ann, who is part of the PAP's incumbent team also facing the SDP in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

"The town council is politically constituted. In other words, the team that wins in this area, they get to constitute the town council, and they will run the town in a way that they feel is appropriate for the residents," Ms Sim, who is a Senior Minister of State, told the media on Sunday (July 5).

She noted that the Bukit Panjang area is made up of Bukit Panjang SMC as well as the Zhenghua and Cashew wards under Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

"I think that for our Bukit Panjang voters and residents, it is a very valid question to think about - what if Bukit Panjang SMC is no longer run by the same town council as the neighbouring divisions."

Within the areas served by the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council, the Bukit Panjang and Zhenghua wards have the largest number of Housing Board dwelling units, with about 13,000 each, she said.

"We believe it's very important for the town improvements, as well as amenities such as covered walkways, connectivity, infrastructure, it should be consistent and planned holistically, so that no precinct or no part of the town feels left out or left behind."

The majority of residents in the Bukit Timah and Ulu Pandan wards live in private estates, but there are also a significant number that live in scattered HDB estates, Ms Sim noted.

"In order for the residents in these small HDB estates to enjoy similar economies of scale when it comes to S&CC (service and conservancy charges) services, landscaping and maintenance services, they would have to be part of a much larger town council.

"So this is the reason why we've always felt that we have to be together," Ms Sim said.

Members of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC's PAP team have been seen campaigning with Mr Liang in Bukit Panjang in recent days.

Asked how big a concern the potential loss of the Bukit Panjang seat is and whether the GRC team is confident of its own chances, Ms Sim replied that the town council's five divisions work together "like the five fingers of one hand".

"So being together as a team is very natural," she said.

Mr Liang said some residents have expressed concern about Bukit Panjang's town management and what would happen if it is split into two, adding that he hopes his experience in overseeing the area will appeal to voters.

"One thing in Bukit Panjang town that we have done well is the connectivity of the town... there is more to do," he said. Other upcoming plans include home improvement programmes and lift upgrading works.

He was speaking to reporters after a walkabout in Bukit Panjang, where he was accompanied by all four PAP candidates for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

Mr Liang, who has overseen the Zhenghua ward since 2006, is contesting Bukit Panjang SMC after replacing Dr Teo Ho Pin, who is retiring from politics.
Timbre Group co-founder Edward Chia has replaced Mr Liang in the PAP team for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

When approached during his walkabout in the same area later, Prof Tambyah, who was with volunteers, said the SDP also hopes to run the two constituencies under one town council.

But he added that if the PAP wins one constituency and SDP the other, "we are very happy to work with them".

"When it comes down to it, we're all Singaporeans and we're working for the good of the people... I personally have no issue with working with the Holland-Bukit Timah town council, and I'm sure my colleagues in Holland-Bukit Timah would have no issue working with the Bukit Panjang town council if we should be on opposite sites of the fence," he said.

Prof Tambyah, who is SDP's chairman, said his team has a clear town council management plan.

"The minute that change of town council occurs, all the accounts must be very transparently displayed, and everybody must have access to them."

 

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#2

Singapore GE2020: Inconsistent manpower policies and renegotiating FTAs will erode confidence in S'pore, says Chan Chun Sing

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing noted that global investor and consumer confidence has gone down.PHOTO: PAP

Linette Lai
Political Correspondent


SINGAPORE - Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Wednesday (July 8) warned against reopening negotiations on free trade agreements (FTAs) and implementing inconsistent manpower policies.

To do so would further erode confidence in Singapore, and reduce the country's attractiveness to investors in a world where protectionism is growing, said the PAP's second assistant secretary-general.

At a People's Action Party press conference, Mr Chan noted that global investor and consumer confidence has gone down.

"What we need to do is make sure that we have a conducive environment to inspire confidence in investors to plant their investments in Singapore, to create good jobs," he said.

Over the nine-day general election campaign period, some opposition parties - notably the Progress Singapore Party - have called for Singapore to review FTAs such as the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

The PSP, led by former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock, has also proposed introducing a quota for Employment Pass holders and lowering the quota for S Pass and work permit holders.

"At this point in time, we must be careful," Mr Chan said at the press conference. "Amidst growing protectionism, reopening FTA negotiations and inconsistent manpower policies will further erode confidence in Singapore and erode our attractiveness as a choice destination for investments."

He listed two things that Singapore has to get done within the next six to 12 months.

The first is to uphold existing bilateral and multilateral FTAs, so that Singapore can continue to access the overseas market.
"Now this is not easy. There are inherent forces that are going to bifurcate the trading relationships... the technological relationships," Mr Chan said.

His own ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have to work to "mobilise like-minded partners" to this end.

Singapore hopes to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership deal - the world's largest trade pact - before the end of this year. It is also pushing to make deals on as many digital economic partnership agreements as possible, which will create new opportunities for businesses, he added.

The second thing that Singapore needs to do, Mr Chan said, is demonstrate to the world that it can have "consistent and coherent long-term policies".

"We need to demonstrate to the world and distinguish ourselves as an open and connected hub, so that people will put their long-term investments into Singapore," he said.

This will allow businesses to seize new opportunities and workers to secure the new jobs that emerge, he added.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Workers' Party candidate Leon Perera pointed out that foreign direct investment grew after the 2011 General Election, even though the ruling party lost Aljunied GRC that year.

Asked for his response to this, Mr Chan said anyone looking at long-term investment trends over many years will inevitably find that it moves upwards.
"But the real question is: Is this due to the effort, or would we have gone on an even higher trajectory if not for the obstacles that we faced?" he asked.

"I think it is wrong to assume that investments will come in to Singapore, regardless of what happens in Singapore."

In the first four months of this year, the Economic Development Board (EDB) secured a total of $13 billion in investment commitments for Singapore. This is higher than the yearly amounts secured from 2013 to 2018, and exceeds the $8 billion to $10 billion initially projected fro the whole of this year. The EDB secured $15.2 billion last year.

Mr Chan pointed out that it is an "immense challenge" to attract both foreign and local investment to Singapore, and noted that local businesses are facing great uncertainty.

Investors will be looking at whether Singapore can still provide a "safe harbour", and have continuity as well as coherence in its policies, he added.

"At this point in time, the last thing we need to do is add to the uncertainty," he said.

"It is not correct to say that, regardless of what happens in this election, people will continue to have the confidence to plant their investments in Singapore."

 

[bobby]

Very xia suay.....

 

[horny]

Even when DT cocks up.other mayors will fuck him.our pap just go one straight line.keep on doing the wrong things and move on.we must vote in opposition...

 

[bobby]

Even before you address foreign investors' confidence...you must first win citizens' confidence.

This cock up king has done just the opposite and winnning CECA Indians' & expats confidence instead.

 

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#3

Why Singapore cannot cut down on foreign workers the way other countries have

T
rade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing noted that Singapore is not like many other countries, where a proportion of local workers is allocated to the construction industry. In some cases, this leads to these workers becoming more expensive, and in other cases, projects take much longer to complete due to the lack of manpower. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
PUBLISHED
MAY 31, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT

Its small size, lack of natural resources mean it cannot reduce reliance on such labour: Chan
Timothy Goh

Is Singapore prepared to have 2,500 babies born here every year grow up to be construction workers?

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing posed this question at a virtual press conference yesterday to show what has to happen if Singapore were to cut down on foreign workers.

Addressing a query on why Singapore could not redesign its economy to allow it to reduce its reliance on low-wage foreign workers, he sketched a scenario in which Singapore has 300,000 foreign construction workers, and where each Singaporean is thrice as productive as a foreign worker.

In theory, this would mean the 300,000 foreign workers could be replaced with 100,000 Singaporeans, who could each be paid thrice as much as a foreign worker.
Assuming every worker works for 40 years without dropping out, this would mean that every year, 2,500 babies - which works out to around 8 per cent of the 33,000 babies born every year - would have to be designated construction workers.

"Do you think you'll be recruiting, in every cohort of Singaporean babies, about 6 to 8 per cent of them into the construction industry?" asked Mr Chan.

"I think realistically, our Singaporean children... want a diversity of jobs," he said, adding that he did not mean that nobody wants to enter the construction industry.

He said Singapore cannot cut down on foreign workers the way some other countries have done because of its small size and lack of natural resources.

Mr Chan said: "It's not so much why people can do it and we cannot do it. The fundamental question is... what proportion of our labour force is prepared to do a job in this sector?"

He noted that in many other countries, a proportion of local workers is allocated to the construction industry.

In some cases, this leads to these workers becoming more expensive, and in other cases, projects take much longer to complete due to the lack of manpower.

Some other countries can sustain themselves using their domestic demand due to their size, but this is not the case for Singapore, he said.

Mr Chan said: "You might ask me the question, what's the big deal, why don't we build slower, why must we build so fast...

"I think the answer to that is quite obvious. For a small country without natural resources, we compete on the basis that we are a good place for people to do business. If we lose out in that relative game compared to other people, then unfortunately, I think the future of Singapore will not be what we expect it to be."

Another issue raised at the press conference was that of increased anti-globalisation sentiment across the world in the wake of Covid-19.

Asked whether Singapore could keep some production lines at home - so that they are protected in the event of another pandemic - instead of having them outsourced, Mr Chan said Singapore cannot shut itself off from globalisation, as it would not be possible for the Republic to survive without trade.

He added that even though Singapore can produce some things domestically, it does not have many natural resources and still depends on foreign supply of materials.
He said: "Even to produce eggs - where do eggs come from? You will probably tell me hens. But where does that chicken come from? Don't tell me eggs... the chickens all come from day-old chicks, and in this part of the world there are only one or two critical suppliers...

"And if the chicken doesn't peck on limestone, there will be no eggs, because you need calcium."

So instead of turning away from international trade, the key is for Singapore to position itself as a critical part of the supply chain and leverage its competitive advantages in production, so it will have something to trade even in the worst of times, said Mr Chan.

He added: "For us, resilience means diversity and interdependence, it doesn't mean autarky and independence. That would be the wrong conclusion to make."

 

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#4 Cotton Comes from Sheep again.


Singapore GE2020: Opposition aims to checkmate, not check Govt, says Chun Sing

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing greeting a shopkeeper on a visit to ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre yesterday, with fellow members of the PAP team for Tanjong Pagar GRC (pictured from left) Alvin Tan, Joan Pereira, Indranee Rajah and Eric Chua. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
PUBLISHED JUL 5, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT


Voters should decide if they wish to have opposition block effective government
Danson Cheong
Correspondent

Voters have to decide if they believe the opposition is ready to serve as a check, or if it is trying to "checkmate" the Government to keep it from providing effective, decisive governance to get Singapore through the Covid-19 crisis, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing.

"I believe Singaporeans are fair-minded. And I think that will determine the outcome," he told reporters yesterday after a morning walkabout.

Another crucial decision facing voters is which MPs can best take care of them, their families and their livelihoods in the midst of the ongoing crisis, Mr Chan added.
Addressing the opposition argument that checks and balances are needed in Parliament, he said: "Has the Government done well? If the Government has done well, should we affirm the Government or should we punish the Government by giving the (PAP) Government even fewer seats?

"If the opposition has not done well, should we reward the opposition with more seats just on the slogan that they will provide more checks on the Government?"

Mr Chan visited ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre with his Tanjong Pagar GRC teammates: Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, Ms Joan Pereira and People's Action Party new faces Eric Chua and Alvin Tan.

Mr Chan was also asked about recent statements made by Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh and Singapore Democratic Party chairman Paul Tambyah. Mr Singh had said on the campaign trail that the Government should make clear its revenue and expenditure projections for the rest of the decade for people to assess whether the goods and services tax (GST) hike is necessary.

Mr Chan said anyone following parliamentary proceedings in the last two years would know the clear fiscal challenges Singapore faces, including an ageing population, a need to renew infrastructure and how global returns face downward pressure because of uncertainty.

The Government could use the reserves to fund spending, borrow from future generations or raise taxes to "pay for it in this generation".

"Now, there is no easy choice, but we must not run away from it and pretend the problem doesn't exist," he said.

The Government had originally planned to hike the GST from 7 per cent to 9 per cent in 2021, but deferred it to some time between 2022 to 2025 because of the
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has said it cannot be delayed beyond 2025 as the Government needs to raise revenue to fund an expected increase in spending, like healthcare.

Mr Chan also addressed comments by Professor Tambyah, who said at a forum on Friday that he wondered if the Government had "lost its focus on the public's health and started thinking about the election" back in March, leading to an increase in Covid-19 cases.

The minister said that with his hand on his heart he can say "at no point in time, have we ever neglected the lives, livelihoods and lifelines of our people".

He added that Singapore had to go to the polls now as the PAP Government needs a new mandate to deal with the challenges, which could persist for the next few years.

"If by the end of this year, we still do not have a new government, can you imagine if we are hit with a subsequent wave of infection? How will we be able to move decisively?"

 

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#5

Singapore GE2020: PAP's warning that opposition might form govt a scare tactic, says PSP chief Tan Cheng Bock

(From left) Progress Singapore Party's Chua Chu Kang GRC candidates Francis Yuen and Choo Shaun Ming and party chief Tan Cheng Bock paying a house visit at Block 9 Teck Whye Lane yesterday. Dr Tan said it was "very unlikely" the opposition parties would be able to win enough seats collectively to replace the PAP government.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
PUBLISHED JUL 4, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT

Lester Wong


It is very unlikely that Singapore's opposition parties will form the government on July 10, said Progress Singapore Party chief Tan Cheng Bock - and added that the warning of a freak election result from Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing was a ploy to scare voters.

Speaking yesterday after making door-to-door visits in Chua Chu Kang GRC, Dr Tan said it was "very unlikely" that the opposition parties would be able to win enough seats collectively to replace the People's Action Party (PAP) Government.

"Don't frighten the Singaporeans, you know. You can fool people one time, but I don't think you can fool them all the time," said Dr Tan.

"(The PAP) has tried this strategy before, telling people: What happens when you wake up after Polling Day and find no PAP governing Singapore? But (there is) no need to worry."

During a dialogue organised by Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao on Thursday, Mr Chan had said that the three largest opposition parties - the PSP, the Workers' Party (WP) and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) - could possibly replace the Government after the general election.

Dr Tan said yesterday that even if that were to happen, the civil service will "always be there to look after the country".

"And even if (the alternative government) really happened, you look at us, what kind of people are we? We don't want to destroy Singapore. Every change we do... is an evolution, not a revolution," he said.

Yesterday, Dr Tan also reiterated his concerns about holding an election during the Covid-19 outbreak, saying Singapore could pay a heavy price if the Government takes its eye off managing the Covid-19 outbreak "just to concentrate on politics".

"I think an overriding factor is that it is not just about jobs, jobs, jobs," said Dr Tan.

"It is your life, our lives. Because once (Covid-19) is not managed well, your borders will remain shut. Then what economic activity are we talking about? What kind of jobs are you going to bring here?"

A day earlier, during his party's party political broadcast, Dr Tan similarly accused the PAP of mishandling the Covid-19 outbreak.

"Before Parliament was dissolved, you saw how the PAP Government struggled to find the right answers.

"You saw how their boasting in January failed to prepare Singapore for the explosion of dormitory cases in April. They do not have all the answers," he said.

 

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#6

Singapore GE2020: Ministers caution voters not to assume PAP will be returned to power effortlessly

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing during a Zoom video conference to unveil the PAP candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC.PHOTO: ZOOM
PUBLISHED JUN 29, 2020, 7:47 PM SGT

Danson Cheong
Correspondent

SINGAPORE - With every constituency set to be contested, it would be a mistake for Singaporeans to think the People's Action Party would be returned to power effortlessly come Polling Day on July 10, two ministers from the ruling party said on Monday (June 29).

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing told reporters that dealing with Covid-19 in the past six months has taught him not to take Singapore's progress for granted, and in the same vein, the ruling party must work hard to earn "each and every vote".

Speaking during a Zoom video conference, he said: "It would be a mistake for all of us to think that going into an election, the PAP will be returned to govern effortlessly."

Sharing his sentiments, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah said during the same video conference that the western part of the island was being hotly contested this time.

"Every single constituency is being contested, and you cannot assume that the PAP will take all the seats. We never (make that assumption) because we do not take our voters for granted," she said at the event to unveil the PAP candidates for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

The two ministers were responding to comments by Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh on Sunday, when he urged voters not to give the ruling party a clean sweep of all 93 seats.

The WP has said it would contest 21 of the seats, while other opposition parties have announced plans to do battle for the rest.


Ms Indranee, pointing to the Covid-19 pandemic as the biggest crisis confronting Singapore since the British withdrew their troops from the country in 1971, said a strong Government would be able to better deliver its plans and schemes to overcome this crisis.

"Make your vote count and to make your vote count, vote PAP, because capable government, a government with a strong and clear mandate is really in the best interest of Singaporeans and Singapore."

She added that it was not necessary for opposition candidates to be elected to have a say in Parliament as the Non-Constituency MP scheme guarantees there will be 12 opposition members in Parliament should the PAP win all the seats.

Mr Chan, who is the PAP's second assistant secretary-general, said it was important for the party to get a "clear and strong endorsement" from the people.

"I agree that each and every vote matters - to send a signal to the Government (about) whether we are on the right track, whether we want to continue to have this Government, a united and strong Government that is working with fellow Singaporeans to lead us out of the difficult moments that we have now."

He urged Singaporeans to scrutinise the manifestos of other parties and ask themselves whether their proposals would work, be executed well, and whether they trusted that party to take care of Singaporeans.

"It's very easy to promise many things. The first question that we have always to ask is - how do we fund it? Do we take it from current spending? Or do we take it from the reserves? Or do we increase taxes in order to fund a programme?" he said.

He added that it was not enough for opposition parties to merely "ask some difficult questions" in Parliament and not have a plan to deliver on their promises.
Singaporeans, he said, were concerned about the economy and their safety, and were looking for a team with "plans, and the ability to execute".


"From our sense of the ground, our daily interactions with our residents, I think there is one main (concern), and that is jobs.

"In the next few months, everyone is concerned whether they can keep their jobs, whether they can take care of their families, and whether they can still have a good future going forward.

 

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#7

Singapore GE2020: Don't rock the 'Singapore sampan', ESM Goh cautions

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (second from left) and PAP candidate for Marine Parade GRC Tan See Leng greeting a resident while eating at Marine Terrace Market yesterday. Mr Goh recounted on Facebook how he had to confront critical issues similar to those in the current election in 2001.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
PUBLISHED JUL 8, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT

Joyce Lim
Senior Correspondent

The "Singapore sampan" is out in the choppy open sea, and the waves are getting dangerously bigger.

In providing this analogy yesterday, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had two "survival tips" for Singaporeans ahead of the general election on Friday.

"One, don't rock the boat; two, pick a crew with the skills to row the sampan, and row in unison with them," he said in a Facebook post.

Mr Goh, 79, recounted how he had to confront critical issues similar to those in the current election in the 2001 General Election, when he was prime minister: lives, jobs and an uncertain future.

He had called an election after the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks, at a time when the global economy and future looked bleak and uncertain, and the tourism and aviation sectors were badly affected.

Mr Goh said he did so to get a strong mandate from Singaporeans to tackle these grave issues. "I fought it on the basis of 'jobs, jobs, jobs'. The people gave me their strong support. We pulled together, and Singapore emerged stronger. The positive results from the 2001 GE also allowed me to proceed with my political succession plan."

The People's Action Party won 75 per cent of the vote, securing a landslide win to lead the nation out of the economic crisis. In August 2004, Mr Goh relinquished the prime minister's post to Mr Lee Hsien Loong.

"PM Lee is now fighting Covid-19, saving jobs and creating new ones, as well as planning for leadership transition. All this, while navigating treacherous international waters. The Government is facing an even tougher situation than in 2001 because the future looks dangerously uncertain," said Mr Goh.

No one knows how long the pandemic will last, he added. Globalisation and free trade are losing steam, and relations between the United States and China are tense

Many bread-and-butter issues are raised during election campaigns, he noted. "But few ask where the bread and the butter come from. For Singapore, they come from abroad," he said. The global ecosystem is therefore important for Singapore.

Mr Goh, who grew up in Pasir Panjang, said he knew a thing or two about the difficulties of rowing a sampan in rough waters. His first lesson: Never rock the boat. Second, one needs skills to keep the small boat afloat in choppy waters.

"I had to steer our tiny Singapore sampan through many choppy waters - economic recessions, financial crises, terrorist threats and Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome)," wrote Mr Goh. "We did so safely because Singaporeans rowed together with me. I will never forget the unity and support from fellow Singaporeans in times of crisis."

 

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#8
Singapore GE2020: SMEs, workers could lose out if FTAs were reviewed: Iswaran

PAP West Coast GRC candidates S. Iswaran and Rachel Ong speak to residents at Boon Lay Place Market and Food Village on July 4, 2020.ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
PUBLISHED JUL 5, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT

Lim Min Zhang


Singapore's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their workers could lose out if free trade agreements (FTAs) are reviewed as the opposition suggests, said Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran yesterday.

Urging the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) to be frank about the trade-offs in its proposals, he said every FTA has a carefully balanced set of pros and cons, and other countries involved would look out for their interest if any reviews are made.

"The other countries are not just going to give you a free pass," he told reporters after a walkabout in Boon Lay in West Coast GRC, where the People's Action Party team he leads faces a challenge from the PSP at the July 10 election.

Mr Iswaran said local SMEs benefit from access to large markets such as China and Asean. And if other countries cut back on benefits for Singapore, then these businesses would lose out, and the people they employ would be affected.

"So I think the voters of West Coast GRC and Singaporeans deserve to know, what are you planning to give up when you say you're going to review all of these. You can't make broad statements then leave it to the imagination of the population," he said, criticising the PSP's manifesto as lacking in detail.

In response, PSP secretary-general Tan Cheng Bock, who is leading his party's team in West Coast GRC, told reporters PSP's manifesto was crafted in the interest of Singaporeans. "If they think we have a lousy manifesto, it's not up to him to say. It's for the people to decide."

PSP assistant secretary-general Leong Mun Wai, who is in Dr Tan's West Coast team, said FTAs are supposed to be for mutual benefit.

He said: "So if the Government is transparent with all the information and data, and we can prove and know that the trade agreements are not in our interest, then it is our sovereign right to renegotiate those agreements." He added that PSP will not be adopting a radical approach in the policies it advocates.

 

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#9

Singapore GE2020: PAP manifesto drives home high stakes in lives, jobs, and future

Grace Ho
Senior Political Correspondent

PUBLISHED
JUN 28, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT
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In 2015, the ruling People's Action Party's election manifesto was titled "With You, For You, For Singapore".

In a year marking the nation's Golden Jubilee celebrations, it spoke of a city of hope, heart, and home. It laid out plans and dreams of a brighter future that Singaporeans could build together.

Fast forward five years, and Covid-19 has decimated jobs, cratered economies, and ruined lives worldwide.

Amid the pandemic and the country's worst recession since Independence in 1965, the PAP's GE2020 manifesto, released yesterday, is markedly more sombre and urgent in tone than the last.

It seeks to focus Singaporeans' minds on three things: their lives, their jobs, and their future.

The message is clear: This is not the time to play a game of chance with lives and livelihoods; the PAP has the capability and resources to tackle Singaporeans' most pressing needs.

"Without a herculean effort by us, we cannot be certain that what we have painstakingly built over decades will continue to stand, and not collapse in the storm," warned Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is the PAP's secretary-general, in a live online broadcast yesterday.

He said that in a normal election, the party's manifesto would focus on its long-term plans for Singapore. But given the pandemic, this year's central focus is "how we will work together to overcome this crisis of a generation".

In the foreword to the manifesto, he wrote that jobs are the top priority. "We have mounted a national effort to keep people in work, to help those out of work find replacement jobs, and to create new jobs and traineeships both in the public and private sectors."

A cornerstone of this effort is the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package, which seeks to provide 100,000 jobs, traineeship and skills training opportunities to those affected by Covid-19. The Jobs Support Scheme, which subsidises wages, has also enabled firms to keep their workers.

The Government has committed $93 billion in Covid-19 support measures over four Budgets, drawing up to $52 billion from past reserves.

Noting that the party has steered Singapore through every major crisis since independence, PM Lee said it has clear and bold strategies to rebuild Singapore's economy, strengthen its society and plan for the country's future.

On this count, the manifesto leaves no stone unturned.

It is sweeping yet specific, describing both current steps and future plans in public health, the economy, urban rejuvenation, social welfare and the environment.

As PM Lee promised, jobs are front and centre of the agenda. Separate sections are devoted to different groups of workers: those aged 40 to 60, seniors, young job seekers, lower-wage workers and those with disabilities.

The support is differentiated - those in their 40s to 60s, for example, would benefit more from SkillsFuture credits and mid-career pathway programmes, while younger Singaporeans will have structured traineeships and regional opportunities.

Similarly, social policies and measures are carved out to meet specific needs of various groups - from families and students, to seniors and those with special education needs.
Acknowledging another looming challenge - Singapore's ageing population - the manifesto reiterates what party leaders have said, that to fund growing healthcare needs, the goods and services tax (GST) has to go up to 9 per cent some time in the next term of government, but not before 2022.

To help Singaporeans cope with the hike, there will be a $6 billion Assurance Package and an enhanced GST permanent voucher scheme.

The Greater Southern Waterfront is a future mixed-use district of more than 2,000ha extending from Pasir Panjang to Marina East. It is among developments set in motion in the PAP's manifesto five years ago. LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE PHOTO

The manifesto also sets out the PAP's longer-term plans to build a dynamic, resilient and responsive economy, "no matter what happens".

These include accelerating digital transformation across all sectors, promoting new growth sectors such as cyber security and healthcare, and diversifying the country's sources of food and essential supplies.

While the manifesto is distinctly different in tone and substance from the previous one, there are a few perennial themes: expanding the social safety net, equalising opportunities through jobs and education, providing greater assurance in healthcare and retirement, and leaving no Singaporean behind.

When it comes to transforming Singapore's physical and digital landscape, developments that have made headlines recently, such as Smart Nation, the Rail Corridor, Greater Southern Waterfront and Paya Lebar developments, were already set in motion in the manifesto five years ago.

Then, the PAP spoke of a shared purpose and involving Singaporeans in shaping policies - an idea that has evolved in the last five years to become the Singapore Together movement, now fronted by the 4G leadership.

This continuity is useful, as a party manifesto serves two functions: Internally, it sharpens the messaging used by individual candidates; and externally, it communicates a party's values and value proposition to voters.

Exactly how it will be used in election campaign material remains to be seen. But to the voters, the party's message is simple: We are consistent, we have a plan, and we can deliver.

As PM Lee said, this is not business or politics as usual, and Singaporeans want to know how the Government will solve their problems.

The aim is not just to survive the storm, "but also to maintain the long-term direction for the country, and keep on building and improving Singapore".

"Hardly ever before has government been so crucial to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Singaporeans. This is why leadership is key, whom you choose to form the next government - and the quality of that leadership - is absolutely critical."

He added that "what the PAP promises, the PAP will deliver".

Whether that message resonates with voters, and whether they will deliver yet another victory to the ruling party at the polls, will be revealed come July 10.

While the manifesto is distinctly different in tone and substance from the previous one, there are a few perennial themes: expanding the social safety net, equalising opportunities through jobs and education, providing greater assurance in healthcare and retirement, and leaving no Singaporean behind.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#10

GE2020 - why a new mandate is needed: PM Lee
PUBLISHED
JUN 24, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT
FACEBOOKTWITTER

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his televised address yesterday explained why the elections need to be called, given the Covid-19 challenges and other uncertainties ahead. The text of his speech follows.

My fellow Singaporeans, good afternoon.

Earlier today, I saw President Halimah Yacob, to advise her to dissolve Parliament and issue the Writ of Election. Let me explain why I have decided to call the general election now.

We are approaching the end of the five-year term of this Government. Under the Constitution, elections must be held at the latest by April 2021.
That is less than a year away.


We have been fully occupied with the Covid-19 outbreak since the beginning of the year.
The pandemic set upon the world suddenly. It quickly grew into a global crisis, spreading across many countries.

Around the world, nearly half a million people have died, and countless more have seen their lives disrupted.

Singapore detected our first cases in January. At first, most were imported cases.

But soon we observed a growing number of local cases, with no links to infected visitors.

In March, the numbers grew, especially later when Covid-19 started spreading among migrant workers in dormitories.

We responded decisively. We imposed a circuit breaker for two months. We made strenuous efforts to care for our migrant workers.

In the dormitories, we are making steady progress, though it will take a few more months to resolve the problem.

At the same time, new community cases have come down sharply. Most importantly, we have kept the number of fatalities very low. Right now, we only have one patient in the ICU, in hospital.

Still, the virus has taken a heavy toll on livelihoods. Around the world, the lockdowns and the public health measures have caused a deep economic crisis.

Shoppers in Bugis Street on Monday afternoon. Singapore has not yet felt the full economic fallout from Covid-19, but it is coming, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. An election now – when things are relatively stable – will clear the decks, and give the new government a fresh, full five-year mandate. It can then focus on the national agenda and the difficult decisions that need to be made. PHOTO: GIN TAY

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. PHOTO: MCI

In Singapore, we have mitigated this with massive fiscal action.

We passed four Budgets, injecting almost $100 billion.

We are drawing from our reserves to support workers, businesses and households.

These decisive emergency actions have kept retrenchments and company closures low.

They have helped Singaporeans take care of their families and see through the immediate crisis.

After great effort, we are now in a stable position. We are cautiously resuming social activities, and progressively reviving our economy.

Life can now become more normal than it was during the circuit breaker, provided we all continue to take the precautions seriously.

COVID-19 UNCERTAINTIES

But we should be under no illusions that we have defeated Covid-19. This is just the end of the beginning phase. A long struggle lies ahead.

Covid-19 will be with us for at least a year and most probably longer, until a vaccine is developed and becomes available.

It is a very difficult and tricky disease to deal with, so we have to continue keeping a close watch on the situation.

Many other countries have successfully brought their cases down, only to experience fresh outbreaks after opening up again.

For example, in South Korea, from nightspots in Itaewon in Seoul, or China from a market in Beijing, or Germany in an abattoir, or the United States, in the southern Sun Belt states.

Therefore, we must be psychologically prepared for more ups and downs in this fight against Covid-19.

Economically, we must brace ourselves for a very tough period ahead. Singapore has not yet felt the full economic fallout from Covid-19, but it is coming.

Despite all the measures we have taken, there will be more business closures, and more retrenchments in the coming months.

Unemployment will go up. But we are determined to save as many jobs as we can, and create new jobs, too.

And we will do our utmost to help businesses and industries survive and restructure themselves.

That is how we can keep our capabilities and livelihoods intact through the storm, and pick up again when the sun shines once more.

EXTERNAL UNCERTAINTIES

Covid-19, the economy and jobs are domestic concerns. But we also face external uncertainties.

Major regional and global developments can affect us.

US-China tensions over many issues, now including Hong Kong; the US presidential elections in November; border clashes between China and India; political developments, nearer home, in South-east Asia.

We do not know what surprises may be in store for us within the next year. But as dangers materialise, we must navigate safely through them and protect Singapore's security and national interests, and this will require diplomatic skills and a deft touch.

To overcome these challenges, we must stand completely united as one people. Singaporeans and the Government must work closely together, with full trust and confidence in each other.

The Government must be able to respond promptly and decisively to the Covid-19 outbreak and the economic situation, and to external developments.

We need a capable government, with the strong backing of the people, to do all that needs to be done on your behalf, and see us through these tumultuous times.

ELECTIONS

An election now - when things are relatively stable - will clear the decks, and give the new government a fresh, full five-year mandate.

It can then focus on this national agenda and the difficult decisions it will have to make and to carry.

The alternative is to wait out the Covid-19 pandemic. But we have no assurance that the pandemic will be over before this Government's term must end next April.
And that is why I have decided to hold the general election now.

We are still in the midst of Covid-19, so it will not be a normal election campaign.

Before deciding to proceed, I had to be certain of two things.

First, that voters can vote safely, and second, that political parties can campaign effectively. After studying the issues, I am satisfied that both of these can be done.
On voter safety, the Elections Department will be implementing additional precautions on Polling Day.

We are setting up more polling stations than in previous elections, to reduce crowding. There will be safe distancing measures practised at the polling stations.

Voters will be allocated specific time slots to vote, and seniors will be given priority to vote before others.

On effective campaigning, the Elections Department has also made arrangements and issued guidelines. Candidates can still go house-to-house campaigning, in person, provided they observe the safe distancing precautions.

Unfortunately, physical election rallies will not be possible, but we will make up with more opportunities for candidates to speak directly to voters on television, and of course online, for example via live streaming.

Singapore is not the first to hold an election during Covid-19.

Others have done so too: South Korea, Taiwan and several European countries.

With our arrangements and precautions in place, I am confident we can hold a proper and safe election.

GOVERNING

During the election period, the Government will continue to govern. The Cabinet remains in charge even after Parliament is dissolved. The public service will function normally.
This is so in every general election, but I particularly emphasise this now, because of the vital importance of ongoing operations against Covid-19, sustaining the economy and protecting jobs.

Therefore, over the next few weeks, you can expect the ministerial task force still to lead our response to Covid-19.

On the economic front, the National Jobs Council will create jobs and training places.

Businesses, workers and families will receive help and support.

All this essential work, on your behalf, will go on, uninterrupted, throughout the election period.

CONCLUSION

This general election will be like no other that we have experienced, not just because of the special arrangements to deal with Covid-19, but because of the gravity of the situation, and the issues at stake.

The government that you elect will have critical decisions to make.

These decisions will impact your lives and livelihoods, and shape Singapore for many years to come, far beyond the five-year term of the next government.

Soon, you will have the chance to decide whom to entrust with the responsibility of working with you to take our country forward.

I have every confidence that you will think carefully, and vote wisely, to secure our lives, our jobs, and our future. Thank you.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#11

Coronavirus crisis poses challenges over next 5-10 years: DPM Heng Swee Keat

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said elections are coming nearer by the day and people have to be prepared for it. When they are held, public health considerations and safety will be a foremost consideration.PHOTO: MEDIACORP
PUBLISHED MAY 28, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT
FACEBOOKTWITTER

Country needs to rally together to tackle them and also deal with very significant uncertainties
Toh Wen Li

Singapore's economy faces significant long-term challenges that need to be dealt with over the next five to 10 years, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.

And the sooner the general election is held, he said, "the earlier we can rally everybody together to deal with these very significant challenges ahead, and also to deal with these very significant uncertainties in the months and years ahead".

Singapore's next election must take place by April 14 next year, and Mr Heng's remarks, in an interview with TV station CNA, are the strongest hint by a minister to date that the polls could be called soon.

Asked whether Singaporeans will have to wait until phase three of resuming economic activity before the election, Mr Heng said: "The sooner that we can deal with the longer-term challenges, the better Singaporeans will emerge out of this, and Singapore will emerge stronger.

"So I would say that, yes, elections are coming nearer by the day, and you have to be prepared for it. If you look at what other countries have done, they have been able to do it (hold an election), even under very difficult circumstances. South Korea has done it and in fact, they had a record turnout."

"When we do so, the public health considerations and public safety will be a foremost consideration," he said. "Even the way in which elections are to be conducted will be different from before."


A law allowing special, temporary arrangements to be implemented, if the election takes place amid the coronavirus pandemic, came into operation on Tuesday.

The Parliamentary Elections (Covid-19 Special Arrangements) Act allows some voters who are under stay-home notices to vote under special arrangements, and lets aspiring candidates authorise a representative to file nomination papers for them if they are unable or unfit to do so.

On Tuesday, Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, announced a $33 billion supplementary Budget - Singapore's fourth support package this year. The Fortitude Budget, as it is called, aims to help workers and businesses tide over the Covid-19 crisis and the grim economic outlook. Combined with the three earlier Budgets, it takes the total amount the Government is dedicating to this cause to $92.9 billion.

The latest Budget requires a draw of $31 billion from past reserves. Altogether, the Government is looking at drawing up to $52 billion from past reserves this financial year.

"Our financial position will be a lot weaker in the coming years. And I'm thinking hard about this, about what we need to do, and how we need to continue to find ways that we can manage this difficult financial situation," Mr Heng told CNA.

"For now, the most important thing is first, keep our people safe. And second, let's get the economy going again, as much as possible. It will not be easy. But if we put our minds to it, we can emerge stronger. And with that, we can begin to rebuild our resources over time."

In the latest Budget, Mr Heng also set aside $13 billion in the Contingencies Fund and the Development Contingencies Fund, for urgent, unforeseen expenditures - more than the $3 billion set aside every year for both funds - to "respond swiftly to a rapidly changing situation".

He said: "I hope that we do not need to have a fifth Budget in order to respond, because if the situation deteriorates, it is going to be very, very fast."

A key focus is protecting jobs, including enhancing the Jobs Support Scheme that co-pays salaries to help firms retain workers.

A new SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package will also create 40,000 jobs, 25,000 traineeships and 30,000 paid skills-training places - about 100,000 positions in total.

Asked if the Government expects 100,000 jobs to be lost in the next few months, Mr Heng said: "There is a range of projections on the expected job losses. We have taken that into account, together with the number of new entrants that enter the labour market every year. So, this is how we've sized it, and I believe that for now, that will be sufficient. But if there is a need for us to do even more, we have the resources to do that."

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#12
Using scare tactic again.

"If Singapore does not act now to transform its economy, it risks losing its hub status and seeing its businesses' and workers' competitive edge erode, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Sept 22)."

Act now to digitalise, or Singapore risks losing competitive edge: Chan Chun Sing

Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing stressed that companies should not be preparing to return to business as usual.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Linette Lai
Political Correspondent

SINGAPORE - If Singapore does not act now to transform its economy, it risks losing its hub status and seeing its businesses' and workers' competitive edge erode, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (Sept 22).

He stressed that companies should not be preparing to return to business as usual, adding that digital transformation is the key to helping the country thrive and transcend "the tyranny of geography", in reference to Singapore's small size.

Now is the time to re-engineer processes, build a new economy, and transform to create the right opportunities for businesses and people, said Mr Chan, who was speaking at the opening of the Future Economy Conference and Exhibition.

"Digital transformation will truly unlock for us the world as our hinterland and market," he added. "But that is if we make the right moves now, harness the power of digital to grow our businesses, drive our economic recovery, redefine our competitiveness and relevance to the world."

More than 1,000 business leaders registered for the two-day conference, which is being held online. It is focused on how businesses can rebuild in the new normal using digital tools such as data analytics. The 19 speakers include representatives from United Overseas Bank, online payments giant PayPal and professional services firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers, who shared their experiences going digital.

At the virtual meeting, it was also announced that the Singapore Business Federation and Infocomm Media Development Authority have renewed an agreement to continue driving digital transformation across the business community and to position firms to seize opportunities over the next three years.

One speaker, Aviva Asia executive chairman Chris Wei, noted that making use of data was key to the insurance giant's digital strategy. This meant using data to make it easier for existing customers to make claims, and to increase operational efficiency and achieve growth.

But to do this, the organisation's culture has had to change, he said, adding that there was a "massive clash of culture" when Aviva first embarked on its digitalisation journey.

"It really does require leadership, it requires a lot of time, a lot of mediation, to make sure that priorities are aligned," said Mr Wei, who is also global chairman for Aviva Digital.

"It needs leadership from the top... the CEO needs to be personally engaged, and whoever's responsible for digital has to spend the time and get into the nuts and bolts of the detail."

Another speaker, Ms Janet Young, who is UOB's head of group channels and digitalisation, pointed out that her organisation - like many other established firms here - is no digital native.

"They're not born digital. They're not digital natives... But you have to become digital," she said.

In the bank's case, it looked to transform its business as a whole and reach a new "digital generation" of customers, rather than just using technology to plug gaps.
"Don't digitise inefficient processes, but truly look at the opportunities that would come about," Ms Young added.

In his speech, Mr Chan noted that the pandemic has accelerated the pace of digitalisation. Going digital comes with challenges, but these should not prevent the Government, businesses or individuals from working towards change, he added.

"Be it digitalisation or globalisation, they require us as individuals and businesses to adjust and adapt. To not do so, to resist change, inevitably means that we will be left further behind."

He stressed: "The faster we adapt, the faster we recover. There is no place for treading water and waiting for normalcy to return. Others will overtake us, and the opportunities will pass us by."

The Government is providing help for businesses through schemes such as the SMEs Go Digital Programme for small and medium-sized enterprises. It has also introduced financial incentives such as the Digital Resilience Bonus for firms that use digital solutions.

At the same time, 1,000 digital ambassadors have been deployed to help the less tech-savvy segments of society keep up. Placements, traineeships and skills upgrading under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package and other reskilling programmes like the Tech Skills Accelerator have also been ramped up, Mr Chan said.

"As our people gain new skills, the digital challenge will become less daunting," he added. "And we will become more productive, be able to take on higher value-added job roles, gain greater job satisfaction and, ultimately, form the digital backbone that every company needs to power... business transformation."

 

[bart12]

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#13
Authoritarian government threatening to deprive you of the vaccine if you chose to wait.
Just like the estate upgrading. Your constituency will be last to be upgraded if your constituency voted for the Opposition.

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

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

Linette Lai
Political Correspondent

22 JAN 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Education Minister Lawrence Wong receiving the Covid-19 vaccine

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong receiving the Covid-19 vaccine

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

 

[bart12]

Bedok reservoir.. if you are tired under PAP

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

#14
Quote: "This is because eligible people who do not get vaccinated not only put themselves at risk - which we can argue is their choice - but will also endanger children and those who, for medical reasons, are not suitable for the vaccine."

Playing the fear card and scaring the peasants.

Eligible individuals who refuse Covid-19 vaccine endanger themselves and others

Salma Khalik
Senior Health Correspondent

A Covid-19 vaccination drive under way at Senja-Cashew Community Club on Feb 22, 2021. Once the vast majority of the population is protected against Covid-19, Singapore should be able to fully open its borders.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

24 FEB 2021

SINGAPORE - Singapore has purchased enough vaccines for everyone here so that all who are eligible can get vaccinated.

Once the vast majority of the population is protected against Covid-19, Singapore should be able to fully open its borders, and life can start returning to normal.

But that can happen only if everyone who is eligible gets vaccinated.

The question is: Will all such people be willing to get inoculated?

If significant numbers don't, it can jeopardise the entire programme.

This is because eligible people who do not get vaccinated not only put themselves at risk - which we can argue is their choice - but will also endanger children and those who, for medical reasons, are not suitable for the vaccine.

Associate Professor Alex Cook of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health said the percentage of people who need to be vaccinated depends on the R0 - the reproduction number - or how transmissible the virus is.

The higher the R0, the larger the number of people who need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity in the country.

The various measures countries have put in place to prevent the spread of the virus have made the computation of the R0 difficult.

Experts estimate it to be between two and three, which means one person will likely infect two to three others.

Assuming an R0 of 2.5 and vaccine effectiveness of 90 per cent, Prof Cook said 67 per cent of the population will need to be vaccinated to prevent an epidemic, although small clusters of cases may still occur.

However, some new variants, such as B117 from England, are said to be 50 per cent to 70 per cent more transmissible, which pushes up the R0 to about four.

Any R0 that is above one would result in rising numbers. The higher the number, the faster the spread.

The 1918 flu pandemic that is estimated to have killed 50 million people had an R0 of between 1.4 and 2.8.

Prof Cook said a virus with an R0 of four would mean 85 per cent of the population need to be vaccinated to prevent an outbreak, if no other mitigating measures are in place.

"Then we'd be in trouble and some safe management measures will have to continue," said Prof Cook, as these figures also assume that vaccination prevents transmission - and the jury is still out on that.

All that has been proven is that the vaccines significantly reduce severe illness and deaths.

However, Prof Cook said that realistically, there should be some reduction in transmission from people who have been vaccinated.

Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, pointed out that some vaccines have been found to be less effective against the variants from England and South Africa.

Professor Ooi Eng Eong of Duke-NUS Medical School, who specialises in viral research and immunology, agreed that some variants "could present challenges for the current versions of Covid-19 vaccines".

But he added that this is currently only theoretical, and based on antibodies needed, without looking at the role of T cells.

"Vaccines that generate good T cell responses, in addition to antibodies, would not be significantly impacted by these variants and would remain highly efficacious," he said.

The concern is that not all vaccines do that.

Prof Teo said: "If the effectiveness of vaccines does decrease as a result of these new variants, we will actually need to vaccinate more people to achieve the level necessary for herd immunity."

Hotel staff getting their Covid-19 vaccine shots at a vaccination centre in Raffles City Convention Centre, on Jan 28, 2021.
PHOTO: ST FILE

Those eligible for the vaccine account for roughly 85 per cent of the population, since more than 10 per cent are children aged 15 and younger for whom the vaccine is currently not recommended.

There are also people who, for medical reasons, should not be vaccinated.

To protect these vulnerable people, it would help if everyone else is vaccinated, to cut the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

People who refuse to get vaccinated do so for various reasons, such as fear, misinformation or even complacency, given the low community spread here.

They may also be anti-vaxxers who refuse all vaccines.

The Government has promised that Covid-19 vaccination is voluntary, unlike for diphtheria and measles where immunisation is compulsory by law.

So it is up to people to decide if they want the protection.

But is a decision not to get vaccinated fair to others?

Will their fear, stubbornness or selfishness put those who are unable to get vaccinated at higher risk?

Said Prof Cook: "If there are substantial vaccine refusals among those who are able to be vaccinated, it does potentially put those who genuinely cannot be vaccinated for health reasons at risk of harm."

If Singapore is unable to "get below the critical threshold", outbreaks would still happen, he said, and some would reach high-risk unvaccinated people.

While both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines Singapore is using give very high levels of protection, they are not 100 per cent effective.

"We will be operating in quite tight margins until children can be vaccinated," he added.

For the rest of the population, should unvaccinated people get infected and become severely ill, payment for the cost of their treatment, whether through insurance and/or subsidies, comes out of everyone's pockets.

One solution is to mimic what the Government has done with regard to citizens and permanent residents who left the country after March 27, in spite of warnings not to do so.

For them and others who returned this year, the Government no longer bears the cost of tests, quarantine and any treatment they might need - since it was their decision to leave the country, or not to return within the stipulated period.

They may, however, tap subsidies and claim against their medical insurance if such treatments are covered by their plans.

These people may have had very valid reasons for the timing of their travel or return.

But should people who put themselves at risk of getting the disease, when a vaccine is available, be allowed to use government subsidies and insurance to pay for their tests and treatment?

Since it is their choice not to get the protection offered, they should be willing to bear the consequences of their decision - be it illness or the cost of treating it.

Full coverage would of course be extended to people who are not eligible to be vaccinated, or who get infected in spite of the vaccine.

The Government has already gone the extra mile by offering compensation of $225,000 should there be permanent severe disability or death as a result of getting a Covid-19 vaccine.

It does not do this for any other vaccine, including those on the national immunisation list.

Similarly, to support the vaccination drive, all the insurers offering Integrated Shield Plans will cover any complications arising from the vaccine.

Again, they do not all normally cover for vaccination-related illness or treatments, although the basic MediShield Life does.

Nothing is 100 per cent safe, not even the safest of vaccines.

It is a matter of weighing the risk of taking the vaccine against the risk of getting the disease.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) receives around 340 reports a year of vaccine-related adverse reactions. But no one has died here in the past decade as a result of getting vaccinated.

The HSA spokesman said: "Similar to medicines, no vaccine is completely free of side effects.

"Fever, pain or swelling at the injection site and rash are common side effects associated with vaccines such as seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccines.

"These are known side effects that are generally associated with vaccinations and usually resolve within a few days."

A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that there were 66 cases of anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction, out of 17.5 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines administered between Dec 14 last year and Jan 18 this year.

Of these, 34 were treated in an emergency department.

Of the remaining 32 who were hospitalised, 18 needed intensive care, of whom seven had to be intubated.

This works out to 4.7 cases per million doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 2.5 cases per million doses for the Moderna vaccine.

These are far better odds than the 22,000 deaths per million people infected globally, and 318 deaths per million population.

Even in Singapore where the spread has been relatively well controlled, the Covid-19 fatality rate stands at 485 per million people infected, and five deaths per million population.

No matter how you look at it, it would be better to get vaccinated than to risk getting the disease.

The question that doubters must ask themselves is not what are the risks they face if they take the vaccine, but what are the risks they face by not getting vaccinated once Covid-19 measures are eased - as they surely will, one day.

When that day comes will largely depend on how many people have been vaccinated, and on the vaccine remaining effective against any mutated strains.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Which PAP minister/MP will be around to account to the citizens when the long-term effects of Covid-19 vaccine surface?

Forum: Little is known about the long-term safety of Covid-19 vaccine

26 FEB 2021

I read senior health correspondent Salma Khalik's article with concern (Eligible individuals who refuse vaccine endanger themselves and others, Feb 24).

While I agree with the short-term safety and efficacy data of the vaccine, as well as the importance of hitting the "critical threshold" to achieve herd immunity, I think having a veiled threat by suggesting punitive action against "non-vaccinators" in the article is hardly the way to go. Open dialogue and directly addressing people's concerns would probably be more effective.

Little is known about the vaccine's long-term safety.

Studying the mechanism of the vaccine itself, the mRNA encodes for a spike protein to be produced, which then binds to the ACE-2 receptor to stimulate the immune response. This same mechanism has been implicated in the long-term cardiac complications of Covid-19.

While it is true that none of the published studies has demonstrated increased cardiovascular mortality after the Covid-19 vaccination, this is at present more a function of a lack of long-term data rather than an endorsement of its long-term safety. Until the long-term trials have concluded, I do not think we can brush this off lightly.
I also cannot agree with her statement that "no matter how you look at it, it would be better to get vaccinated than to risk getting the disease". I think we have to consider the risk-benefit ratio in the different subsets of the population.

We know that in a fit and healthy young person, the risk of mortality from Covid-19 is incredibly low. But in the elderly population with multiple comorbidities, the risk of severe disease is extremely high.

Hence for the younger, healthy population, the risk-benefit ratio of being vaccinated skews towards "risk", especially with so much unknown about the vaccine's long-term safety.

I would like to end by saying that despite all my dissent, most of my immediate family members have been vaccinated to protect the elderly at home.

I am writing to make it clear that at present, little is known about the long-term safety of the vaccine and in choosing to be vaccinated, people should be well informed not just of the benefits, but also of the risks of the unknown.

Lee Chun Yii