When the PAP threatens / scares the citizens

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"First, getting Covid-19 has long-term consequences. From what is now better known, a significant minority of patients ranging from 10 per cent to 40 per cent may suffer from long-term complications affecting the heart, brain and lungs, and general well-being. This is called the "long Covid" syndrome. In contrast, no major safety concerns have emerged despite millions of people being vaccinated across the world."

Forum: Benefits of Covid-19 vaccination outweigh the risks

2 MAR 2021


I read with concern Forum writer Lee Chun Yii's letter (Little is known about the long-term safety of Covid-19 vaccine, Feb 26).

There are several points which indicate a misunderstanding of how the virus causes disease, how the mRNA vaccine works and the epidemiology of Covid-19.

First, getting Covid-19 has long-term consequences. From what is now better known, a significant minority of patients ranging from 10 per cent to 40 per cent may suffer from long-term complications affecting the heart, brain and lungs, and general well-being. This is called the "long Covid" syndrome. In contrast, no major safety concerns have emerged despite millions of people being vaccinated across the world.

Second, mRNA vaccines work by stimulating the production of the spike protein within our cells, which then stimulate antibody production and other immune cells that protect us from future infection. There are many advantages of these mRNA vaccines.

The mRNA vaccines currently available are the most effective vaccines that all future Covid-19 vaccines need to contend with as the gold standard. Additionally, the technology also allows quicker updates within weeks rather than months when significant new strains require an update.

There is no virus in the mRNA that can bind to ACE2 receptors to produce any long-term complications. However, unvaccinated people getting Covid-19 are at risk of long-term complications.

Where there is paucity of safety data, such as in pregnancies and in children, Singapore has been cautious and has held off recommending the vaccine until further data emerges. Hence, these vaccines are recommended only when there is good evidence to show that benefits outweigh the risks.

It is true that young people are at lower risk of complications. But it is not zero risk. Data from Europe and North America suggest 1 per cent to 5 per cent still died from Covid-19.

Importantly, young people with Covid-19 and actively socialising are responsible for the spread of the disease and contributing to the rapid spread of new strains. Notably, they infected the high-risk older people or those with medical problems who then died from Covid-19.

For personal and family reasons, and as good citizens of a society, young people should also take Covid-19 vaccines when offered. Delaying effective Covid-19 vaccination has real negative societal consequences, especially when we are progressively opening up society and the economy.

David Lye (Associate Professor)
Director, Infectious Disease Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases
Member, Expert Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination

 

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Singaporeans have pulled together, but terror fight far from over: PM Lee​

PM Lee said that the dangers to Singapore had appeared far sooner and nearer than imagined.PHOTO: MCI

Lim Min Zhang

SEP 11, 2021


SINGAPORE - In the months following the 9/11 terror attacks and the discovery of regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and its plots against multiple targets here, the greater danger to multiracial, multi-religious Singapore was not to physical safety, but to mutual trust and cohesion, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In the face of extreme Islamist terrorism, and after several Singaporean members of the JI were detained, non-Muslims could easily have become fearful and suspicious of their Muslim neighbours, colleagues and friends, he said.
And Muslims in turn, feeling distrusted and threatened, could have closed in on themselves.
"We would have been divided by race and religion. And if an attack had actually taken place here, our society could have been torn apart," he added in a commentary on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 published on Saturday (Sept 11).
Singapore drew on the trust built up over many years among different communities and with the Government, overcoming sensitive issues together in an even-handed way for the collective good, he said.
"In an existential crisis, Singaporeans instinctively pulled together, and responded strongly and cohesively to keep ourselves safe," added the Prime Minister.

Exactly 20 years ago on Sept 11, 2001, militants from terror group Al-Qaeda hijacked commercial planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000.
PM Lee, who was then Acting Prime Minister in Mr Goh Chok Tong's absence, said that the dangers to Singapore had appeared far sooner and nearer than imagined, as the JI terror group, which had a common ideology and direct links with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, was discovered by the authorities.
On 9/11, JI members were already in advanced planning for simultaneous truck bomb attacks on multiple targets in Singapore, including the US Embassy and other Western interests. "Fortunately, the Internal Security Department acted swiftly to disrupt the group, in time to prevent a disaster," PM Lee wrote.
Singaporeans pulled together, with community and religious leaders standing in solidarity and coming out to condemn the attacks.

"In particular, Muslim leaders were forthright in repudiating the terrorists, and they guided the community on the true teachings of Islam. Non-Muslim leaders too spoke up in support of religious tolerance and to express confidence in their fellow Singaporeans," he added.
PM Lee cited efforts by the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles to build trust and the Religious Rehabilitation Group to counsel those led astray by violent extremist ideology. Several Muslim groups came together to help support the families affected, and in most cases, the efforts succeeded.
"Because we did all this, our racial and religious harmony held, and indeed strengthened."

The fight against terrorism is far from over, he added. Extremist terrorism has metastasised and digital media amplified the poison.
Al-Qaeda was succeeded by ISIS, which has lost physical territory but continues to operate, including online. Lone-wolf attackers have self-radicalised on the Internet.
"And now that the US has left Afghanistan, we will have to watch closely how the situation there develops, whether groups based in Afghanistan will again threaten our security, and where else new fronts of terrorism may emerge," he said.
Racial harmony in Singapore is still a work in progress, he added. "9/11 showed how powerful are the forces that can pull us apart, and how careful we must be when making any changes to the formula that has delivered racial and religious harmony for Singapore."
PM Lee cautioned against the assumption that the tendency of people to identify with their own racial and religious groups has been overcome. "We have to keep on bringing all the communities closer together, and from time to time adjust the delicate balance that the different communities have reached."
Describing Singaporeans' shared experience of 9/11 as a formative chapter in nation building, he said: "Let us resolve to fortify ourselves so that should we ever face another such test one day, we will come through again, stronger, as one united people."

 

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20 years after 9/11, community vigilance against extremism even more important now: Teo Chee Hean​

Singapore's best defence against terrorism and radicalisation continues to be a complementary approach taking in both security and community responses.

PHOTO: ST FILE

Justin Ong
Political Correspondent

SEP 11, 2021

SINGAPORE - Twenty years ago, the threat of radicalised individuals mainly took the form of young and middle-aged men in organised groups. Today, the danger also comes from self-radicalised lone wolves - including teenagers and women - who wield everyday instruments as weapons to carry out attacks on their own.
The key difference between 2001 and 2021? The Internet, which has sped up and extended the reach of radicalisation, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, in an interview with The Straits Times to mark two decades since the Sept 11, 2001 attacks.
"Therefore, we cannot rely only on our security agencies and a security approach to counter and prevent violent extremism," he added. "A community approach with vigilance and response from everyone has become even more important."
Mr Teo, who is Coordinating Minister for National Security, noted that in 2001 and earlier, violent extremist groups had to form cells, travel and gather for indoctrination and training to plan and execute attacks.
Fast forward to 2015 and Singapore had detained, under the Internal Security Act, 19-year-old Arifil Azim Putra Norja'i. He was the first known youth to harbour the intention to carry out violent attacks here, and had also planned to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group - after viewing terrorist propaganda online. If he could not leave Singapore, he intended to kill then President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In 2017, Singapore also detained a woman for the first time. Childcare assistant Syaikhah Izzah Zahrah Al Ansari, then 22, had been radicalised by online propaganda from ISIS as well. She had planned to travel to Syria with her young child, to marry and settle down with a fellow ISIS supporter.

Both were radicalised by the persuasive power of what they saw and who they interacted with on the Internet, said Mr Teo.
"The Internet creates more opportunities for individuals to be radicalised through the 'echo chamber' effect," he explained. "The Internet has also accelerated the process of radicalisation from a few years to a few months - even a matter of days in some cases."
"This has sped up the timeline for conducting attacks, particularly those by lone wolves, making it more challenging for security agencies to detect and pre-empt them."
Mr Teo also pointed out that even societies considered safe, such as New Zealand's, have suffered attacks from individuals radicalised by different but violent ideologies.

In March 2019, a white supremacist gunman attacked two Christchurch mosques, killing 51 people and injuring dozens of others.
Last Friday, a Sri Lankan man inspired by ISIS grabbed a knife off a supermarket shelf in Auckland and stabbed seven people before he was shot dead by police.
Mr Teo told ST that Singapore's best defence against terrorism and radicalisation continues to be a complementary approach taking in both security and community responses.

He pointed to the Community Engagement Programme, launched in 2006 to strengthen intercommunal ties in the event of an incident. It was succeeded by the SGSecure movement in 2016, which has since rolled out programmes to raise preparedness in the community.
Mr Teo also commended community organisations' counter-ideology efforts to prevent exclusivist views - a precursor to violent extremism - from taking root. He cited the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis); Religious Rehabilitation Group of volunteer Islamic scholars who counsel radicalised persons; and Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, which looks at the socio-economic well-being of detainees and their families. The non-governmental Inter-Religious Organisation has also played an important role in promoting interfaith harmony, said Mr Teo.
Terrorism is not confined to any one religion, race or nationality, added the Senior Minister, who cited the case of a 16-year-old Protestant Christian Singaporean boy detained last December for plotting to attack two mosques and kill Muslims on the second anniversary of the Christchurch attacks.
He said this case highlighted the "need to guard against the potential of 'reciprocal radicalisation' and cycles of retaliatory violence, where the actions of jihadist terrorists and far-right extremists feed off and amplify each other's intensity".
"Terrorism is not justified in any circumstances," he added. "We should oppose it and counter it wherever it comes from."
Mr Teo called on family members, friends, colleagues and schoolmates to help "sound the alert" on individuals drawn to exclusivist and violent ideology. Referring them as early as possible to counsellors and to the security agencies can save them from doing harm to themselves and others, he said.
Mr Teo also stressed that an attack may occur when least expected, and before security forces arrive, Singaporeans must be ready to save themselves and those around them.
"Every Singaporean matters in the fight against terrorism," he said. "The engagement and partnership with the community to counter terrorism is a continuous work in progress, and we can do even better."

 

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S'pore could be facing same terror threat level as 2001, says Teo Chee Hean​

A man walks down a street filled with destroyed vehicles at the car-bombing site in Kuta, Bali, in October 2002.

PHOTO: AFP

Hariz Baharudin

SEP 11, 2021

SINGAPORE - The threat from violent extremism remains a real and present danger two decades after Sept 11, 2001, and Singapore and the region could find themselves back to where they were, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean has cautioned.
In an interview with The Straits Times, Mr Teo said while terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been severely disrupted in Syria and Iraq, it has morphed into other forms like ISIS-Khorasan, its affiliate in Afghanistan, and continues to recruit, motivate and prepare followers to commit attacks in their own countries.
Al-Qaeda, which was behind the Sept 11 terror attack on America that killed 2,977 civilians, has been regrouping, as have its offshoots.
And closer to home, members of terror networks like the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) have been released or could be released soon, and a new generation has emerged, he added.
"Today, with all these trends and the Taliban back in power in Afghanistan, we could find ourselves back where we were 20 years ago," Mr Teo said in the e-mail interview this week.
"Do all these mean that history will repeat itself? I certainly hope not, and wish that we will have greater wisdom all round."

Mr Teo, who is Coordinating Minister for National Security, noted that 9/11 - as the attack is usually referred to - transformed the world overnight. "The global nature of the planning and support networks, and the horrific lengths to which the Al-Qaeda terrorists were prepared to go, were a warning for security and law enforcement authorities everywhere," he said.
The impact of 9/11 was reinforced by Singapore's discovery of the JI network, which was planning to attack Changi Airport and other targets here, he added. The Internal Security Department mounted operations to arrest JI members in December 2001 and January 2002.
Mr Teo also noted the direct link between JI and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan was established when US forces who had invaded Afghanistan found plans and a video containing reconnaissance footage to attack targets in Singapore in the rubble of Al-Qaeda military chief Mohammed Atef's home.
The seriousness of the threat to South-east Asia and Singapore sank in one year, one month and one day after 9/11, when the JI detonated three bombs in Bali, killing 202 people. "These were home-grown terrorists who had been influenced by Al-Qaeda, and had received training and experience in Afghanistan," added Mr Teo.

He noted that when he spoke to ST on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in 2011, he had said that while Al-Qaeda and JI may have been disrupted, their threat would remain until the ideological extremists and violent ideological basis for the movement are discredited. He also identified the Internet as the new battleground in fighting terrorism.
These observations remain valid today, he said.
Mr Teo also said Afghanistan was a key battlefront in the global fight against extremist terrorism, and this was why from 2007 to 2013, the Singapore Armed Forces contributed to the international community's reconstruction efforts to restore stability in Afghanistan.

The SAF deployed 492 servicemen in support of the International Security Assistance Force, particularly in Bamiyan and Oruzgan provinces, as well as in Kabul.
The withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban's return to power last month has seen extremist groups anticipating the country becoming a safe haven once more, and prompted a surge in foreigners as well as Afghans seeking to be evacuated.
The safety and security of civilians was foremost, Mr Teo said. Singapore deployed a Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft to assist in the evacuation operations, and Mr Teo said he was glad the SAF's 77-member team, which returned here on Friday, had a safe mission and made a meaningful contribution to the humanitarian effort.
"The events in Afghanistan are still unfolding. We will continue to watch the developments in Afghanistan closely," he added. "Ultimately, it is not what is said, but what is done that actually matters."
Mr Teo said there is currently no information on a specific terrorist threat to Singapore arising from the situation in Afghanistan.
But he added: "We must continue to be vigilant. Our security agencies are watching the developments closely and will calibrate our security posture to be commensurate with the threats."

 

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The lessons from 9/11 for Singapore​

Twenty years on, as the aftershocks of the terrorism attacks continue to reverberate, Singaporeans must not let their guard down or take our cohesion for granted, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.​

Lee Hsien Loong

A file photo of the smouldering remains of the World Trade Center’s twin towers following the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

PHOTO: AFP

SEP 11, 2021

Twenty years ago today, Prof S. Jayakumar called me at home to tell me about a major terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York. Prof Jayakumar was then Minister for Foreign Affairs (and concurrently for Law), and I happened to be Acting Prime Minister in Mr Goh Chok Tong's absence. I turned on the television to see the two towers in flames, and watched in horror later as they collapsed one after the other.
Our world changed overnight. But what we needed to do immediately was clear. We issued a strong statement to condemn the attacks, express solidarity with the United States, and convey condolences to the victims and their families. We reached out to Singaporeans in the US to make sure they were safe, and checked if they needed consular assistance. We put the SAF and Home Team on alert, and tightened security measures across the board, to prepare for the worst.

Beyond physical security​

The dangers appeared far sooner and nearer than we had imagined. We discovered right here among us a terrorist group having a common ideology and direct links with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan - the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group.
On 9/11, JI members were already in advanced planning for simultaneous truck bomb attacks on multiple targets in Singapore, including the US Embassy and other Western interests. Fortunately, the Internal Security Department acted swiftly to disrupt the group, in time to prevent a disaster.
Internationally, we cooperated with other countries to share intelligence and to fight a common scourge. The SAF participated in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and contributed to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq. Terrorist groups in these faraway places were serious threats to Singapore.
But for multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore, terrorism was not just a threat to our physical safety. The greater danger was to our mutual trust and social cohesion.


In the face of jihadist terrorism, and especially after several Singaporean members of the JI were detained, non-Muslims in Singapore could easily have become fearful and suspicious of their Muslim neighbours, colleagues and friends. And Muslims in turn, feeling distrusted and threatened, could have closed in on themselves. We would have been divided by race and religion. And if an attack had actually taken place here, our society could have been torn apart.
But we drew on the trust built up over many years among our different communities and with the Government, overcoming sensitive issues together in an even-handed way for the collective good. In an existential crisis, Singaporeans instinctively pulled together, and responded strongly and cohesively to keep ourselves safe.
Community and religious leaders from all groups and faiths came out to condemn the terrorist attacks, and stood in solidarity with one another. In particular, Muslim leaders were forthright in repudiating the terrorists, and they guided the community on the true teachings of Islam. Non-Muslim leaders, too, spoke up in support of religious tolerance and to express confidence in their fellow Singaporeans.
The Government held open discussions with leaders of all groups, so that everyone understood the stakes, and that the public signal was clear and reassuring. We gave closed-door briefings to the key leaders, to take them into confidence and share with them sensitive intelligence and threat assessments.

At the grassroots, we organised Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles all over Singapore. These local networks of leaders who knew and trusted one another were meant to manage any racial and religious tensions after a terrorist attack.
We also sought to rehabilitate those led astray by the violent extremist ideology. This relied on close partnership between the Government and the Muslim community. Respected Muslim leaders like Ustaz Ali Haji Mohamed and Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi bin Hassan formed the Religious Rehabilitation Group. They laboured patiently and unremittingly to persuade these individuals of the error of their ways, and guide them back to become good Muslims and citizens. Several Muslim organisations came together to form the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group. They helped these individuals put their lives back on track, and provided social, emotional and financial support to their families. Happily, in most cases, these efforts succeeded.
Because we did all this, our racial and religious harmony held, and indeed strengthened. This was vital, as the threat was real and continuing. In the years since 9/11, we witnessed the Bali bombings, attacks in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, and the siege of Marawi in southern Philippines.
Singapore, too, remains a prime target. More than once, terrorists planned attacks on Singapore, including one to hijack and crash an airliner into the Changi Airport control tower, and another to launch rockets at Marina Bay Sands from Batam. Thankfully, these attacks were pre-empted, and Singapore stayed safe.

The legacy of 9/11​

Two decades after 9/11, the fight against terrorism is far from over. Extremist terrorism has metastasised. Digital media has amplified the poison. Al-Qaeda was succeeded by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which has lost physical territory but continues to operate, including online. Lone-wolf attackers have self-radicalised on the Internet. Some are jihadists, but others espouse other violent rabid ideologies.
This year, we arrested two self-radicalised Singaporean youths who were preparing lone wolf attacks - one on a synagogue, the other on a mosque. And now that the US has left Afghanistan, we will have to watch closely how the situation there develops, whether groups based in Afghanistan will again threaten our security, and where else new fronts of terrorism may emerge.
At the same time, our racial harmony is still a work in progress. 9/11 showed how powerful are the forces that can pull us apart, and how careful we must be when making any changes to the formula that has delivered racial and religious harmony for Singapore.

Never assume we have overcome for good the tendency of people to identify with their own racial and religious groups. We have to keep on bringing all the communities closer together, and from time to time adjust the delicate balance that the different communities have reached.
The price of security is eternal vigilance. The price of harmony is an unflagging effort to uphold and realise ever more fully our nation's founding ideal to become one people, regardless of race, language, or religion.
Singaporeans' shared experience of 9/11 and its aftermath is another formative chapter in our nation-building journey. On its 20th anniversary, let us resolve to fortify ourselves so that should we ever face another such test one day, we will come through again, stronger, as one united people.

 

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NTUC FairPrice yet to make police reports over abandoned trolleys this year but warns 'recalcitrant shoppers'​

An abandoned NTUC FairPrice trolley. (Photo: CNA/Gaya Chandramohan)

Lakeisha Leo​

11 Feb 2022

SINGAPORE: There have been no police reports made so far this year on people who abandon shopping trolleys, NTUC FairPrice said on Friday (Feb 11).
The issue was highlighted by FairPrice CEO Seah Kian Peng in a Jan 18 forum letter published in The Straits Times in which he said police reports would be lodged and "stern action" taken against errant users. He was responding to several forum letters about the issue of shoppers who abandon supermarket trolleys.
While the supermarket says it has yet to go down the police route this year, a spokesman told CNA: "We reserve the right to do so to address recalcitrant shoppers who insist on abandoning trolleys even after our staff have advised them not to."
In his letter on Jan 18, Mr Seah said the company had received many proposals on how to better track the location of trolleys.
"Many have also proposed tightening the registration processes for trolley use," he added.
"To us, these are all second-order things which do not address the key issue which is fundamentally, irresponsible social behaviour."
He added that several measures have been introduced to encourage responsible trolley use, which included a coin deposit system, trolley return bays located at convenient locations such as taxi stands, drop-off points, as well as public awareness campaigns.
"Unfortunately, these have not been as effective as we would like them to be," said Mr Seah.

 

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Forum: Disclosing breakdown of employment data figures will help prevent social division​

Mar 10, 2022

I find Manpower Minister Tan See Leng's contention that the disclosure of employment data by categories of original citizens, new citizens and permanent residents would hurt social cohesiveness arguable (Leong Mun Wai urged to not draw divisions among S'poreans, March 5).
It seems a bit far-fetched to assume that residents in Singapore are not mature enough to handle such statistics and will develop ill-feelings which may lead to social division.
Mr Tan's preference to categorise these three groups as "locals" is puzzling in view of the fact that he disclosed in his ministerial statement last July, and in Parliament in September, that "the majority of local professional, management and executive (PME) growth over the past decade had gone to Singaporeans born in Singapore" (Jobs created for local PMEs outstrip rise in EPs in finance, infocomm: Tan See Leng, July 6, 2021, and Bigger rise in local PMET employment and wage growth despite foreign PMETs: Tan See Leng, Sept 14, 2021).
I would thus have expected the minister to take the opportunity to disclose the statistics to disabuse Singaporeans of the notion circulating in social media and in public discourse that most jobs had gone to new citizens and permanent residents.

Ang Ah Lay

 

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Budget debate: Tan See Leng urges Leong Mun Wai to not undermine cohesiveness with data requests​

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (left) said NCMP Leong Mun Wai's requests for employment data differentiating between original and new citizens as well as permanent residents would create societal rifts. PHOTO: MCI

MAR 4, 2022

SINGAPORE - Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Friday (March 4) called on the Progress Singapore Party's Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai to not hurt Singapore's cohesiveness by constantly requesting employment data that differentiates between original and new citizens as well as permanent residents (PRs).
Doing so would create societal rifts, the minister said in response to Mr Leong during the debate on the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) budget.
"I urge Mr Leong - have a care," said Dr Tan. "Please don't undermine the cohesiveness we have painstakingly built over the years. And please ask people who share your point of view to also have a care for the rest of us."
Mr Leong had criticised what he saw as MOM's reluctance to differentiate employment data by categories of "original citizens", "new citizens" and PRs, and the decision to "lump all the figures" under one grouping of "locals".
"We do not have a clear picture of how policies have affected each category of people," he said, adding that the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) had previously disputed figures Dr Tan had provided in July last year on job creation for locals.
In a ministerial statement then, Dr Tan said the number of local professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) had grown by more than 380,000 from 2005 to 2020.
But during a September parliamentary debate on two motions on jobs and foreign talent policies, the PSP's other NCMP Hazel Poa contended that a portion of these jobs could have been due to PRs taking up citizenship and foreign workers becoming PRs.

On Friday, Mr Leong repeated this argument, saying most of the 380,000 increase was "not a real increase" as it would have been due to new citizens and PRs.
"If we truly want the foreigners to complement the Singaporean core, then MOM must ensure that Singaporean jobs are not being threatened," he said.
During his speech where he announced new policies such as a points-based framework for Employment Pass applicants, Dr Tan also addressed Mr Leong's points by using the same phrases that Finance Minister Lawrence Wong did in his Budget round-up speech on Wednesday.


"We get the sense that the persistent requests coming from him for more information are red herrings. They are distractions from the key problem at hand," said Dr Tan, who is also Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
Mr Wong had made similar comments in response to requests from the Workers' Party for revenue and expenditure projections as they debated the upcoming goods and services tax (GST) hike.
Dr Tan pointed out that in his July ministerial statement, he had already shared that the majority of local PME growth over the past decade had gone to Singaporeans born in Singapore - and had repeated this in Parliament in September.


"But Mr Leong persists in drawing these divisions, asking for statistics splitting between original citizens, new citizens and permanent residents," said Dr Tan.
"I've also alluded, at that particular point in time, that as a society, we should not constantly be drawing such lines.
"Many of our new citizens and PRs share family ties with Singaporeans, or they've studied; they've worked; they've contributed and they have also lived here for some time," he added.
"They contribute to our strengths as a society and as an economy. Singapore is an immigrant nation - and openness is one of our society's core strengths that has defined who we are."
Added Dr Tan: "Singapore is, and Singapore will always be, committed to remaining open to foreigners who complement our local workforce and who are able to add vibrancy to Singapore's economy."

 

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S'poreans must brace themselves for a less peaceful region, period of high inflation: PM Lee​

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered the National Day message from Gardens by the Bay. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

Aug 8, 2022

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans must brace themselves and be psychologically prepared that in the next decades, the region might not be as peaceful and stable as it has been, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday (Aug 8).
And the world is not likely to return any time soon to the low inflation levels and interest rates people have enjoyed in recent decades, he added in his National Day message.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the cost of living is at the top of everyone's minds, and gave the assurance that the Government stands ready to do more to help Singaporeans if things worsen.
But the basic reality, he said, is that global economic conditions have shifted.
Singapore's deeper response must therefore be to transform industries, upgrade skills and raise productivity.
Only then can wages beat inflation and citizens earn more in real terms year by year.

PM Lee gave this sobering outlook on geopolitics and the economy in his speech that was recorded at Gardens by the Bay, and broadcast to the nation.

He noted that after battling Covid-19 for 2½ years, Singaporeans have come through as one united people.
Key to its success has been the high level of trust - not just people trusting the Government and following its advice on safe management measures and vaccinations, but also trusting one another to be responsible.
"We did the right thing even when no one was checking," he said. "Our mutual trust in one another made all the difference."


Singaporeans have emerged stronger and united from the pandemic, he added.
This unity is crucial as the country moves forward.

PM Lee noted that US-China relations are worsening, with intractable issues, deep suspicions and limited engagement between the two sides.
This is unlikely to improve any time soon, and miscalculations or mishaps can easily make things worse, he added.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine also has profound implications for the world and for Singapore.
First, it has set Russia, a nuclear power, bitterly against many states, especially the US and Nato countries. This hostility is deep and will not be resolved easily.
Second, the invasion violates fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity under the United Nations Charter. Such principles are vital to Singapore, as they underpin its security and existence, he said.
Third, war in Europe will affect regional security in the Asia-Pacific. It has further strained China's ties with the US, and with America's partners in Asia. "Singapore will be buffeted by intense rivalry and tensions in the region around us," he added.
"Staying united is key to Singapore's survival - it is the only way to deal with challenges in an increasingly troubled world," he said. "We must look to our Total Defence, and maintain a strong and credible SAF and Home Team."

Turning to the economy, PM Lee noted that while Singapore has emerged strongly from the pandemic, the outlook has clouded considerably.
The pandemic had disrupted supply chains and inflation was already on the rise.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine aggravated both problems, and food and energy prices are rising globally.
The Government is doing everything necessary to help Singaporeans cope with rising prices, PM Lee said.
Multiple support packages target assistance at those who need it most, with some measures already in place, while others will be rolled out in the coming months, he added.
"We have acted decisively to secure supplies of food and other essentials, diversifying our sources and building up adequate stockpiles."
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PM Lee added that he was glad to see companies and community groups starting their own support programmes.
"By helping each other, Singapore can be stronger together," he said.
Meanwhile, the Government has tightened its exchange rate policy and strengthened the Singapore dollar to dampen imported inflation.
"The Government also stands ready to do more to help Singaporeans if things worsen," he added.
PM Lee said: "More storms and turbulence lie ahead. But do not fear.
"As long as we stay united and resolute, we can keep our nation peaceful and secure, build a more prosperous economy, and forge an inclusive society that all of us can belong to and be proud of, for many years to come."

 

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Singapore’s reserves cannot be built up again once gone: PM Lee​

PM Lee Hsien Loong said he was proud that Singapore had built up the reserves, and is anxious that the country keeps it like this for as long as it can. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

August 16, 2023

SINGAPORE - Singapore’s reserves cannot be built up again once they are gone, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in an interview published on Wednesday.
The country is no longer in a situation like it was in the 1970s and early 80s. This was when it had strong growth and budget surpluses yearly, and there was the possibility of putting aside some of the prosperity for a future rainy day, he said.
Today, Singapore is not as poor as it was before, with higher incomes and a higher standard of living. But expectations and needs have also grown, noted PM Lee.
“So, to say today you put aside systematically 2 per cent, 3 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) and build up a sovereign fund from scratch, I think it is very hard. The economy will not be able to take it,” he said.
PM Lee said he was proud that Singapore had built up the reserves, and is anxious that the country keeps it like this for as long as it can.
“Because it is one of those things – once it is gone, it will never come back again. It is finished,” he said.
“I think we need to be very, very conscious that this is a Garden of Eden state. You are here, it is marvellous. You may not always feel great, but please be aware this is the Garden of Eden because if you come out from it, you cannot go back in again by the sweat of your brow.”

PM Lee was responding to questions on Singapore’s reserves, including its functions and its history, in an interview with national broadcaster CNA that was aired on Wednesday in a documentary titled Singapore Reserves Revealed. The interview was conducted on June 8.
When asked what the reserves mean to him, PM Lee said they are a great source of comfort and reassurance that if Singapore runs into a jam, it will not be destitute and will have “one extra card to play”.
It gives the Government confidence, but is also a reminder of the forefathers’ contributions and a responsibility to generations to come, he added.

Singapore’s reserves are managed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Republic’s investment company Temasek and sovereign wealth fund GIC.
The reserves also include those of key statutory boards like the Housing Board, Central Provident Fund and JTC Corporation, which together with MAS, GIC and Temasek are listed in the Constitution as Fifth Schedule entities.

Are the reserves enough?​

PM Lee said that the biggest misconception among Singaporeans on the reserves was that “there is such (a) thing as enough”.
“And how much is enough? If I have more than that, I can spend it. If I have less than that, well, maybe I hope to get there. I do not know how much is enough. There is no such idea of how much is enough,” he said.
The future is unpredictable and many things can go wrong, he added.
“From the long-term point of view, will I have enough if the world is steady and peaceful? I hope so. Will I have enough under all circumstances? That is what I do not know, and that is what the Government has to worry about on behalf of Singaporeans.”
He noted that when the global financial crisis of 2008 hit, the Government needed to draw $4 billion to $5 billion from the reserves. For the Covid-19 crisis, it needed over $40 billion.
“So, you have no idea how much you will need because Covid-19 is far from the worst thing that can happen to us,” he said.
He suggested that Singaporeans look at the reserves as “rainy-day money”.
“If it is not raining, I do not touch it. If it is a sunny day and I can afford to, I put a little bit more into it.
“However much there is, I keep on having this attitude that I would like to build it up a little bit more when I can, so that the next generation will be in a more secure position than I am today,” he said.
PM Lee added that while the Government managed to put back the money it drew for the global financial crisis, he did not think it was possible for the Covid-19 draws to be put back.

The Covid-19 vaccination centre at Potong Pasir Community Club on June 26, 2021. The Government needed to draw over $40 billion from the reserves for the Covid-19 crisis. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
When asked if there was any anxiety over Singapore’s response to the Covid-19 crisis, PM Lee said he had no doubt that the Government was doing the right thing, and it was doing what it needed to do.
“I was relieved that we were not held back because of the lack of resources to do, at least not lack of dollars, to do what we needed to do.
“It could have been overdone, but in such situations, it is not worth trying to fine-tune,” he said, adding that the eventual spending was less than expected, though still substantial.
When asked how large the reserves are, PM Lee said he could not answer the question, but said they are “enough for most circumstances” and enough to provide a substantial support in the Budget every year, by contributing to a fifth of the Government’s revenues.
“But it may or may not be enough if you have a catastrophe – who knows what the world will bring? So, I do not ask whether it is enough; I ask, can we husband it and if possible, gradually grow it bit by bit year by year,” he said.
He noted the importance of the contributions from the reserves to Singapore’s Budget, without which the Government might have to make up the revenue from other sources, such as doubling corporate income tax or personal income tax, or increasing the goods and services tax rate further.
“When people say, why don’t we use the reserves in order to benefit the current generation? The answer – we are, to a very big degree. But you may not realise because we have gotten used to it,” he said.
When asked if the structure of having MAS, Temasek and GIC overseeing the reserves is correct and useful in today’s context, PM Lee said that from time to time, the Government has asked itself if it should have two GICs.
“Because you have a certain amount of funds now, it is not small. Conceivably, you could have two and they could compete with one another, then you would know who is doing well and who is not doing so well,” he said.
“Every few years we argue about this, but finally we will conclude that building one team is hard enough, let us concentrate on making that one team succeed. And I think we keep it like that.”

The elected president​

On the singular pivotal moment in the history of Singapore’s reserves, PM Lee pointed to the time when the Government decided to recognise the reserves as being a lot of money, and needing to have a second key.
The idea was first floated by former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in his 1984 National Day Rally speech, before the scheme was worked out and implemented over the next few years.
“I think that was the key turning point because it crystallised people’s focus. They knew that there is such a thing called the reserves, that it is quite a lot of money and that it needs to be protected,” said PM Lee.
When drafting the system, it was important to protect the reserves but not paralyse the government of the day, noted PM Lee.
He noted a phrase used by the late Mr Lee on the topic.
“The phrase which he used was that one day, if you have a rogue government, everything is finished.
“That was the way we explained and marketed it, that one day, if you have a freak election, you have the wrong team in charge, you have a rogue government who wants to raid the reserves, in one term, all your life savings of generations of Singaporeans will be gone. And therefore, we must prevent that,” said PM Lee.
He also noted that when the system of the elected presidency was first devised, there was no clear distinction in the original legislation between income from the reserves and investment returns.
In those days, the portfolio was not invested as systematically and comprehensively as it is today. The premise then was that the principal sum would be locked up, and all of the income from the reserves could be spent.

When the system of the elected presidency was first devised, there was no clear distinction in the original legislation between income from the reserves and investment returns. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
PM Lee said that when former president Ong Teng Cheong took on the role, Mr Ong asked why all the income was being spent, and asked the Government to set some aside for the future.
Mr Ong then suggested that half be split for now, and the other half for the future.
The Government accepted the suggestion and amended the Constitution.
There was an arbitrariness to the decision of the 50-50 split, said PM Lee.
“But when you do deals, 50 per cent is not an arbitrary number. Fifty per cent has a certain psychological resonance to it,” he said.
At the same time, barring accidents and if everything goes well, the reserves should be able to grow by about 2 per cent yearly.
This will ensure the contribution to the Budget every year can be maintained, said PM Lee.
The Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC), which comes from the reserves, is the largest contributor to the Government’s revenue yearly.
When asked about potential scenarios where the 50-50 rule could be changed, PM Lee replied: “If the world completely changed, and I would say several successors from me, from now.”
He added: “Where we are does not give me any reason to need to reconsider this 50-50 NIRC rule.”

 

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PM Wong urges Singaporeans to remain united in ‘a far more dangerous world’​

PM Wong said he had good discussions with many counterparts during overseas work trips, including the recent Group of 20 Summit in Brazil. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

Nov 24, 2024

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans must remain united in a far more dangerous world that is in flux, with more conflict and instability on the horizon, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Nov 24.

“Then we can speak with one voice on the world stage. And we will be valued as a safe and secure, a stable and reliable nation, even in a troubled and uncertain world,” he said.

Speaking at the People’s Action Party (PAP) conference, he said the Government would not be able to navigate this turbulent new world or withstand hostile foreign influence operations without the steadfast support of Singaporeans.

Singapore’s reputation and international standing is high, PM Wong noted at the conference, where cadres had gathered in the morning to vote for the next iteration of the party’s top decision-making body that would lead it in the next general election.

“What makes Singapore so exceptional? It’s because when we speak, others know that it is a Singaporean point of view, coherently articulated by the Government and supported by Singaporeans,” he said.

“They know we mean business, and we do not waver,” added PM Wong, who is currently the ruling PAP’s deputy secretary-general.

He is slated to take on the role of party chief from Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong after the first meeting of the new central executive committee.

Addressing about 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests, PM Wong laid out the challenges in the global situation that Singapore will have to navigate as it embarks on its next phase.

The Prime Minister said he had good discussions with many of his counterparts during various overseas work trips, including the recent Group of 20 Summit in Brazil.

Everyone is worried, he said, given the major wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, and US-China relations in a more challenging place.


“There are many moving pieces geopolitically where things can easily go wrong,” he added.

PM Wong said for decades, countries everywhere benefited from an American-led global order that was supported by multilateral institutions.

But the United States – while still pre-eminent – no longer wishes to be the world’s policeman. Former US president Donald Trump has been re-elected to office, on the basis of “America First”, he noted.

His mandate reflects the growing sentiment among the American public that they are paying too high a price to uphold the global order, and not enjoying the commensurate benefits.

Other rising powers like China and India are also focused on their own domestic issues, and are not in a position to take on larger global responsibilities yet, said PM Wong.

The world is in flux, with established norms fading but a new order yet to take shape, he added.

“Amidst this vacuum of leadership, we can expect more conflict and instability in the world, as state and non-state actors will be emboldened to test boundaries, often with little or no consequence,” he added, citing the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Ideally, the major powers should come together to coordinate their positions and work for the larger good, but there is deep suspicion and mistrust between America and China, said PM Wong.

Each regards the other as a strategic threat, with both taking steps to enlarge their spheres of influence and strengthen their own positions – so it will get harder to find common ground, he said.

“These are the realities of the world we live in. And these dynamics will be with us for some time – we’re not talking about one or two years... I think we will have to grapple with this perhaps for the next decade or beyond,” said PM Wong.

“We will find it more difficult to make a living, and keep ourselves safe. Other countries may test our limits, and we must be ready to stand firm and defend our interests. At the same time, we must redouble our efforts to make friends with everyone, big and small, near and far,” he added.

Singaporeans must hence remain united, even as they are bound to have different views on global developments.

“We cannot let our differences pull us apart. It is already tough to be a small country for our voices to be heard. It will be even tougher if our voice is diffused and incoherent. At the end of the day, we must consider the larger national interest and take a united position,” he said.

PM Wong said he does not take the trust and support of Singaporeans lightly.

“My team and I will work hard to earn your trust, and to be a steadfast voice for Singapore and Singaporeans on the world stage.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Stakes in GE2025 are high; no guarantee PAP will win and form a stable govt, says PM Wong​

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined steps taken to refresh the party at the People’s Action Party conference on Nov 24. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Kenneth Cheng
Assistant News Editor

Nov 24, 2024

SINGAPORE - The upcoming general election in 2025 will be a high-stakes one, and Singapore risks ending up with a much weaker government if there is just a modest swing in popular votes against the ruling party, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Speaking at the People’s Action Party conference at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, PM Wong told party members: “Please don’t think it is guaranteed that the PAP will win and form a stable government.”

In a speech lasting about 40 minutes, the Prime Minister also highlighted the need for Singaporeans to stay united in the midst of trying circumstances beyond its borders, and spoke of the urgency for the PAP to have a fresh crop of younger candidates who can take Singapore forward.

He noted that in the 2020 General Election, the Opposition had warned Singaporeans against an “Opposition wipe-out”.

“Actually, there is no chance of that happening at all,” PM Wong said, adding that the Opposition in Singapore is here to stay.

There have been opposition MPs in Parliament since 1981, and the Non-Constituency MP scheme guarantees at least 12 opposition MPs in the House, noted PM Wong, who is set to take over as the PAP’s secretary-general. He is now the party’s deputy secretary-general.

“In fact, given the desire for more opposition voices, the bigger risk we face is the loss of a stable and strong and good government,” he said.

The Opposition themselves admit they are far from ready to form the Government, he told an audience of about 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests.

“They say that partly because they know that Singaporeans will not support them if they openly declare their intention to govern,” he added.

But if more and more voters are persuaded by the Opposition’s argument to vote them in so they can oppose the government of the day, “you can be sure that what is now the Opposition will soon be the Government”, said PM Wong.


He cautioned that such a scenario would not require a large swing in votes at the next general election, which must be called by November 2025.

A modest swing in popular votes against the PAP, he noted, can lead to very different electoral outcomes, and very possibly the loss of another three or four group representation constituencies.

This means the party will lose four or five ministers - or a quarter of the Cabinet.

“We will end up with a much weaker government, with far less ability to solve the problems facing our people and our country at a time when the world is becoming more uncertain and troubled,” he said.

“So, comrades, the stakes in the next election are high.”

PM Wong urged the party to work hard for every vote, to earn the confidence and trust of Singaporeans, win the mandate to govern, and ultimately, serve fellow Singaporeans.

“We know from the last election, and more so in the next election, there are no longer any safe seats,” he said.

“So every resident, every vote counts, and all our efforts matter.”

He noted that the PAP faces a rather unique political challenge, having governed Singapore for 65 years.

It is the party’s desire to keep serving Singaporeans for as long as possible, but he warned that members must never assume they will not see a change in government in their lifetime.

He said the PAP has to refresh its approach, adding that the party can no longer “operate from the back” in a more contested political landscape.

The party must “come out in front” to explain its policies, engage Singaporeans on the issues they care about, and show them why they can trust and depend on the PAP, he added.

PM Wong outlined steps taken to refresh the party, including forming climate action and mental health groups. A new party app will be launched to engage members and widen the party’s network, he added.

Turning to leadership renewal, PM Wong said his priority is to form the best team for Singapore, and that it remains difficult to recruit good people into politics. This is the “most important, the most crucial, the most urgent thing I have to do”, he stressed.

While he has been spending a lot of time engaging potential candidates, Singaporeans who have excelled in their professional lives are very comfortable where they are and are very reluctant to change their lifestyles, he noted.

“Also, why subject themselves to public glare and scrutiny? Often, they tell me: ‘Let someone else do the job. So many people in Singapore; you find someone else.’

“Or they may say: ‘Don’t worry, the PAP is already in a very strong position. You have just started. Why are you in such a hurry? Take your time’,” added PM Wong.

Stressing the urgent need for younger candidates who can “provide vigour and continuity” and eventually form Singapore’s next leadership team, PM Wong, 52, said more than half of the 19 ministers in the present Cabinet are aged 60 and older.

The older ministers on the team provide experience and wise counsel, and many of them will still serve for another five to 10 years, assuming they are in good health.

“But can I wait until they retire before bringing in new blood? Surely not. I must start now to renew the team,” the Prime Minister said.

When new candidates are brought in, it is very hard to parachute them directly into ministerial roles, as they need time to learn, he added.

There is, therefore, tremendous value in having them start early, gain experience, and progressively build up the confidence and capabilities to take on larger responsibilities.

The Prime Minister said that he has made some progress in recruiting potential office-holders, but still hopes to persuade a few more to join the team.

“I look forward to presenting the candidates as our election campaign approaches,” he told party members.

“When we field them, please support all of them, and help me to spread the word and persuade our fellow citizens to support them too, because we cannot leave this to chance.”