All about Covid-19 Discussion in Singapore (compiled)

[wilfgene]

Assuming the clinic specializing in STI is still there, perhaps a bunch of sinophiles reminding themselves  "It is not alcohol that makes you drunk" or reciting 19 ancients poems from New Songs on the Jade Terrace..

[henryt1]

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ura-orders-robertson-quay-restaurants-stop-selling-takeaway-alcohol-day-after-photos

[Guest Sovereign]

2 minutes ago, Guest racist fingerpointing? said:

So nice, all Singaporeans get fined but all the ang mohs photographed gets away with it.

Ang mohs are sovereign. Police officer see also close one eye. But yellow skin all kena charged. Where all those uncle aunties who likes to scold ppl for not wearing mask?

[Guest racist fingerpointing?]

Goodness, look at this, reporting those foreigners with OneService app, apparently happening for weeks, how dare she make the report!

 

 

 

[Guest Racism stirrer]

That same guest is back with a vengeance.  This thread is going to member section sooner or later.

[Guest Guest]

10 minutes ago, Guest Racism stirrer said:

That same guest is back with a vengeance.  This thread is going to member section sooner or later.

 

Sure. Throw it into the Member's Zone or the Flaming Room lor. Who cares? It is bad enough for this forum to be a gay forum, it worse for it to become one for Singaporean bashing now. Anything that do not cater to pray-to-thy-white-and-foreign-masters activities gets thrown there. 20 years of BlowingWind in the making, and this is what it turned into. It's good time for this whole forum to be locked up and banished forever anyway. You happy, I happy, everybody happy! Truth hurts? That's too bad.

[Guest question]

Robertson quay has a big "congregation" of condominiums and stretches up to Great World city and River Valley. 

 

A lot of expats are staying at this place and around this area. 

 

It is natural to see many expats at this location! 

 

Yesterday, around 2pm I saw a group of  8 - 10 Singaporean men in their 40s to 60s  drinking beers just outside 50m of a food court and wet market  with nearby Fairprice and taking up the seats of a nearby busstop, sheltering because of the sunshine. 

 

Did I film it? 

Did I call the authority? 

Did I post it on Facebook? 

Did I blame them for anything? 

 

Did I make a big fuzz about it? 

 

No! 

 

Why need to fingerpoint to any group of persons? why to Kaypoh????

 

Let the authorities do their job! 

[Guest KNNB Chao Ang Mo]

Lets be honest here.  Way before this pandemic, I find foreign expats have never regard our local communities nor the law in our country with respect.  This pandemic seeing them sitting around without their mask and loitering at close distance is a complete disgust to say the least.   Let's not just say it happened only at Clark Quay area, but they were seen almost every corner and park of Singapore without putting on their mask.  Why is this happening?  Because our system is almost as double standard in the eyes of these foreign expats as local citizens knew long ago.  It is well known internationally and all these foreign expats knew they can get away acting differently and will be protected if they break the law.   You can put all these to the test, ask the Sham what will he do to so seen in photo, he will probably give just a warning, but to our local community, expact to be hurled to court.

[Guest to be closed]

The thread can now be closed and moved to the Flaming room. 

 

The matter has been resolved: 

 

SINGAPORE - Some restaurants at Robertson Quay have been barred from selling alcohol for takeaway, after people were found socialising and flouting safe distancing measures at the riverside dining enclave.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) told The Straits Times on Sunday (May 17) that these restaurants had been selling takeaway alcohol to patrons, “which had contributed to more individuals gathering around these premises”.

“To prevent such gatherings from taking place, we have issued a written direction to these restaurants to cease the sale of takeaway alcohol with immediate effect,” said an URA spokesman. 

“Any contravention of such directions is an offence and we will not hesitate to take such parties to task.”

[Guest Guest]

9 minutes ago, Guest to be closed said:

SINGAPORE - Some restaurants at Robertson Quay have been barred from selling alcohol for takeaway, after people were found socialising and flouting safe distancing measures at the riverside dining enclave.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) told The Straits Times on Sunday (May 17) that these restaurants had been selling takeaway alcohol to patrons, “which had contributed to more individuals gathering around these premises”.

“To prevent such gatherings from taking place, we have issued a written direction to these restaurants to cease the sale of takeaway alcohol with immediate effect,” said an URA spokesman. 

“Any contravention of such directions is an offence and we will not hesitate to take such parties to task.”

 

AMTK.

Too little .. too late.

[Guest question]

Let’s drink and be merry.

 

 

 

 

[singalion]

As family violence increased during the lock down (in many countries this was reported, not only in Singapore), seems got issues with maids too during the lock down.

 

I just wonder whether that one guy who did not allow his maid to stay in the house, when she left in February on her offday,  was staying inside the flat all the time during the lock down, not even going out for groceries or anything else, because he could bring back the virus home.... As this happened even before the lock down period I can just guess, he wanted to get rid of his maid anyhow.... He should receive a fine from MOM or be charged and should pay accommodation costs to the maid and the charity who helped her to find a bed.

 

 

Coronavirus: More maids running away during circuit breaker, say advocacy groups

Domestic workers staying at a shelter run by the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics celebrating Labour Day.PHOTO: HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION ECONOMICS

Published 4 hours ago 18/05/2020

 

Wong Yang

SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - She claimed she had to endure verbal abuse from her employer from the time she started working for the family in January.

And she said it got worse during the circuit breaker period, with enforced and prolonged stay-home measures putting her under greater scrutiny.

The foreign domestic worker (FDW) from the Philippines, who is in her late 30s, eventually reached a breaking point and ran away from her employer's home earlier this month, Ms Jaya Anil Kumar, a case manager at the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home), told The New Paper.

"She told us her employer called her 'b*******' and she would sometimes have to eat lunch late because she was made to finish her work first," said Ms Jaya.

The woman called Home's helpline, and the migrant worker advocacy group arranged for her employment agency to pick her up.

She is now housed by her agency and awaits repatriation as she wishes to return home.

 

 

Tensions between employers and FDWs during the Covid-19 pandemic have escalated, according to the Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Fast).

 

It told TNP recently that the number of runaway cases it received in the last two months has more than doubled, from 13 in March to 29 in April.

More FDWs have also called Home's helpline and said they want to leave their employer's residence, though it could not provide exact figures.

Temporary accommodation at shelters run by welfare groups have been busy.

 

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore as well as Home, which has about 50 FDWs at its shelter, said they have had to limit the number of residents at their shelters to ensure safe distancing.

 

NP reported last month that more flashpoints had emerged between employers and FDWs during the circuit breaker period.

VERBAL ABUSE

With more to feed and more cleaning to be done, some FDWs have endured heavier workloads and shortened rest hours, while others say they were not compensated for work assigned to them on their rest days at home.

Ms Jaya said some have experienced "severe verbal abuse, salary disputes or other well-being issues".

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, chairman of the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE), added: "FDWs are more stressed, tired and need a bit more rest, but are afraid of articulating these to their employers."

For other FDWs, it was their employers who showed them the door.

A Filipino FDW in her 30s, who declined to be named, told TNP she was barred from entering her former employer's Housing Board flat after she went out on her rest day in February because he was afraid she would bring the coronavirus home.

He told her to put herself up at a friend's or relative's place for 20 days before calling him to check if she could return. He did this after having given her the green light to go out that day.

She said: "I was shocked. I had worked for them for five years and suddenly I had to think about where to go.

"I went to a budget hotel in Geylang, but I couldn't sleep at all because I still felt lost."

 

She sought shelter at Home's facility on the advice of a friend two days later. After about a month there, she was hired by another employer when her previous employer did not want to take her back.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed on Sunday (May 17) it is investigating the former employer for a breach of the work permit conditions, but added that complaints of FDWs being evicted from their employers' homes are rare.

Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, employers can be fined up to $10,000, or be jailed for up to a year, or both, if they fail to provide acceptable accommodation for an FDW they employ.

MOM said, together with its partners, it has seen an increase in queries from FDWs on work and rest day arrangements, and with its advice, "the vast majority were able to reach a mutual understanding with their employers on these issues".

 

[Guest question]

Don’t worry, won’t get fined.

 

[single42]

https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/singapore/police-investigate-non-singaporeans-from-boozy-robertson-quay-gathering-masagos/ar-BB14hjQh?li=BBr8Cnr&fbclid=IwAR2hwnbrwQNmPTcAf9omTBczhUwrjGyux_io5_Fljy8Q7uRWVigndZaV9e4

[single42]

https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/singapore/police-investigate-non-singaporeans-from-boozy-robertson-quay-gathering-masagos/ar-BB14hjQh?li=BBr8Cnr&fbclid=IwAR2hwnbrwQNmPTcAf9omTBczhUwrjGyux_io5_Fljy8Q7uRWVigndZaV9e4

 

INVESTIGATION IS IN PROGRESS

[LeanMature]

Could this explain why cases of  Covid-19 were so high in US and Europe ?

[Guest Guest]

18 minutes ago, single42 said:

https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/singapore/police-investigate-non-singaporeans-from-boozy-robertson-quay-gathering-masagos/ar-BB14hjQh?li=BBr8Cnr&fbclid=IwAR2hwnbrwQNmPTcAf9omTBczhUwrjGyux_io5_Fljy8Q7uRWVigndZaV9e4

 

INVESTIGATION IS IN PROGRESS

 

Police investigate ‘non-Singaporeans’ from boozy Robertson Quay gathering: Masagos

The police have tracked down a number of “non-Singaporeans” who gathered outside Robertson Quay restaurants on Saturday and are investigating them for allegedly breaching safe distancing measures, according to Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli. 

 

Singaporean infringe on SHN to eat bak ku teh = 6 weeks jail.

Angmoh infringe on SHN to go Chinatown Point = 4 weeks jail. 

Let's see what punishment these angmohs get. 

[Guest Passerby]

37 minutes ago, LeanMature said:

Could this explain why cases of  Covid-19 were so high in US and Europe ?

 

Think reported in Italy they are basically like that during lockdown, which was why the mayors openly rant about the citizens. However this is not their country, least they should do is respect and obey the laws of the host country.

[Guest question]

24 minutes ago, Guest Guest said:

Singaporean infringe on SHN to eat bak ku teh = 6 weeks jail.

Angmoh infringe on SHN to go Chinatown Point = 4 weeks jail. 

Let's see what punishment these angmohs get. 

 

Chao sinkie must be immediately fined, named and shamed regardless. Ang moh must investigate for days, try to understand their difficulties and forgive them, after all they left their home country and family to come here to create jobs for chao sinkies.

[lonelyglobe]

53 minutes ago, LeanMature said:

Could this explain why cases of  Covid-19 were so high in US and Europe ?

Partly yes, most of them don't take precautions and don't really care so much about corona virus as compare to Asian. 

[Guest Guest]

26 minutes ago, Guest question said:

 

Chao sinkie must be immediately fined, named and shamed regardless. Ang moh must investigate for days, try to understand their difficulties and forgive them, after all they left their home country and family to come here to create jobs for chao sinkies.

 

Dun like that saayyyyy.... AMTK mah.. 

Sooner or later, Moderators will come delete all these posts again.

Dun forget ah ..."without angmoh more than TWO HUNDRED years ago, we will still be a fishing village'. 🤣😆 🤣😆 🤣😆

 

18 minutes ago, lonelyglobe said:

Partly yes, most of them don't take precautions and don't really care so much about corona virus as compare to Asian. 

 

Of course what ... They fall sick, Singaporeans government will pay the bills. On top of that, whatever resilience package Singaporeans get, they will also get. "Nobody gets left behind .. ", remember? 

[singalion]

44 minutes ago, lonelyglobe said:

Partly yes, most of them don't take precautions and don't really care so much about corona virus as compare to Asian. 

 

Just to explain:

 

In Europe people have great liberties. Governments must justify any curtailing of liberties. These liberties are protected by the Constitution. The Government cannot just infringe on these liberties and freedom rights.

There must be a good reason to take away these liberties even for a health pandemic. Governments had to persuade the people for the common good to respect some curtailing of liberties during the Covid 19 crisis, such as a "lock down". There must be serious justifications in Western society to take away any of those constitutional guaranteed liberties.

 

This is the background why it took longer for Western countries to "convince" their people to stay home and respect the common sense for not gathering in big groups outside.

 

Which country in Asia knows any similar liberties, protected by the constitution?

Singapore? Malaysia? Philippines? Thailand?

 

Most countries here are authoritarian and do not protect personal liberties of the people.

Look at the liberties protected by the Singapore Constitution and compare those with the liberties granted by European constitutions.

 

Governments in Asia can just enact something without a need to look at personal liberties. People would not even have a right to protest against any measure.

 

Please never forget this difference!

 

And no my question to lonelyglobe:

Did the local people (group of Singaporeans), not wearing masks, who went for a swim at MacRitchie reservoir around 8 May 2020 take precautions and care much about corona virus?

(I m sure I could name other examples for unmannerly behaviour in the past weeks,

How about those Singaporeans not wearing masks who some 2 or 3 days ago sat at a table of the closed community center drinking alcohol and smoking, who even dared to cut off the CCTV cameras...

Did they take precautions and care much about corona virus???

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2020 by singalion
typ

[Singroc]

2 hours ago, LeanMature said:

Could this explain why cases of  Covid-19 were so high in US and Europe ?

I think it could also be due to the western culture.

They hug and kiss when they meet whereas Asians usually shake hands at most.

Edited May 19, 2020 by Singroc

[Guest Robertson]

The one who actually exploited the situation at Robertson Quay were the pubs/restaurants by selling the take away alcohol and not advising their customers not to drink it directly outside the pubs or in the direct area.

 

These pubs and restaurants were even sending marketing emails and whatsapp to inform on the sales.
Same goes for the places outside. if you look at the pictures the restaurants/pubs failed to cordon off the tables outside. This is in clear violation to the Covid 19 rules for pubs and restaurants. The restaurant owners would have needed to go out and chase the crowd away from the tables. They don't even have any display!  And they did not mark off the tables, seats with safe distancing signs.

 

I m not here to protect any Ang Mohs, just want to point to the fact of the pubs exploiting the situation in selling the take away alcohol. Those sitting around and strolling around without masks, drinking not doing any exercise should know better.

 

As to my best knowledge, there is no law disallowing to exercise and drink alcohol at the same time (unless after 10pm to 6am outside in public)...

 

 

 

If you look at the following picture it does not look very different to the Park Connector near to my place.

Some days ago (Sat 5.30pm) I was not even able to cycle because it had too many people walking. I was forced to walk my bicycle back home. Same situation with plenty of families with kids bikes and even more people on the Park Connector.

 

 

 

 

[Guest Guest]

2 hours ago, singalion said:

And no my question to lonelyglobe:

Did the local people (group of Singaporeans), not wearing masks, who went for a swim at MacRitchie reservoir around 8 May 2020 take precautions and care much about corona virus?

(I m sure I could name other examples for unmannerly behaviour in the past weeks,

How about those Singaporeans not wearing masks who some 2 or 3 days ago sat at a table of the closed community center drinking alcohol and smoking, who even dared to cut off the CCTV cameras...

Did they take precautions and care much about corona virus???

 

The type of foreign trash that Singapore brings into the country is really Uniquely Singapore. I wonder if somebody shoot another person dead in countries such as Mexico and Colombia, will he be able to get away with it by claiming that many locals do the same too?

 

[Guest Guest]

2 hours ago, Since u r here said:

and it is the Sporeans doing such nasty sales, those who made the purchase drank it Instantly after purchase

 

.... and Singaporeans are blaming Singaporeans for that too. Truly and Uniquely Singaporean indeed. Wow....

[Guest same but different]

4 hours ago, Guest Guest said:

Singaporean infringe on SHN to eat bak ku teh = 6 weeks jail.

Angmoh infringe on SHN to go Chinatown Point = 4 weeks jail. 

Let's see what punishment these angmohs get. 

 

 

The judge in the case of the Ang Moh gave a clear explanation why the punishment was different to the case of the Singaporean Bak Kut Teh guy and why the different jail term!

 

Please do not confuse things or politicise such matters.

 

Refrain from alluding Foreigners are receiving better treatment at the Singapore Courts.

 

 

CNA: excerpt: 13 May 2020

American pilot jailed for breaching stay-home notice to buy masks, thermometer

The prosecutor asked for at least six to eight weeks' jail, saying that this was the first prosecution under Regulation 3 of the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations 2020, which was enacted to combat the escalating COVID-19 infection rate in Singapore.

"It is necessary for the court to send a clear message to the public that breaches of stay orders or stay-home notices will not be tolerated, and that severe punishments will be meted out," said Mr V Jesudevan.

 

The defence had compared Yeargan's case to the case of Alan Tham, who was jailed six weeks for leaving his house to eat bak kut teh and run errands while on a stay-home notice.

 

However, the prosecutor said "the comparison cannot really be apples for apples". 

 

 

The Bak Kut Tuh guy ran 5 different errands during the stay home notice!

 

Would this justify the same punishment for the Ang Moh???

 

 

[Guest Guest]

1 hour ago, Guest same but different said:

The Bak Kut Tuh guy ran 5 different errands during the stay home notice!

 

Would this justify the same punishment for the Ang Moh???

 

Singaporeans can be investigated until they found him to be running 5 errands, while angmoh went all the way from Changi Airport Crown Plaza to Chinatown only to buy masks and thermometer, and everyone believe.  

[lonelyglobe]

I think sporean got no choice but for all other foreigners, regardless where they from,  if they want to make money here, they should just follow the rules here and if they are not happy with the rules here,  they can always baleh kumpong. 

[Zackling]

 

 

 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/primary-secondary-and-preu-students-to-return-to-school-in-2-phases-from-2-june-133228690.html

 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-up-to-2-children-grandchildren-can-visit-seniors-per-day-from-2-june-120030122.html

 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-singapore-to-exit-circuit-breaker-period-resume-activities-over-3-phases-120022663.html

 

 

[single42]

Edited May 20, 2020 by single42

[Guest Robertson Walker]

[single42]

 

Crowds swarm Geylang Serai market ahead of Hari Raya celebrations

 

Singaporeans are flocking to the Geylang Serai market as it prepares for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, leading to long queues of trolley-toting shoppers. 

With the holy month of Ramadan coming to its festive conclusion this weekend, as many as five long lines stretched across the front of the market yesterday, with one woman describing long queues today with waits of 30 minutes to enter the market popular in the Malay community. 

 

“[O]hmyyyy the queue to get inside geylang serai market is longggg. ok i expected it to be long but not like this?? i feel like i’m queuing up @ [Universal Studios Singapore],” @Nurhidayah_fz tweeted today. She couldn’t immediately be reached for further comment. 

Most of the people seen standing in the lines wore face masks and stood a commendable distance from each other in one video filmed at the scene.

“This year Geylang will be History for all of us. We can’t shop how we use to. We have to queue at the market just to feed our family. This year Hari Raya Puasa is not the same. We don’t get to celebrate with our whole family just a few that stay with us,” the clip’s caption read.

 

Nope, Eid isn’t canceled. Singapore’s Muslims are finding festive cheer – and sales – online

 

Month-long Hari Raya celebrations begin Sunday, but Muslims in Singapore are not allowed to visit other households or gather as is customary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. 

 

“As such, Muslims should abide by the national restrictions on gatherings in public and private spaces, and therefore refrain from traditional Hari Raya visits and gatherings across households,” the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said Friday.

 

“Visits to loved ones in different households, especially elderly family members, should be deferred until restrictions on visits are lifted, except where important care-giving is required,” it added.

 

Shopping for festive items such as produce, decorations and traditional clothing should also be done individually and kept as brief as possible.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

***Phase 1 hasn't even start .. how to bring down the figures..??

[jlone]

46 minutes ago, single42 said:

Crowds swarm Geylang Serai market ahead of Hari Raya celebrations

 

Die die also must buy!

[jlone]

Two of the cases had gone to work after experiencing the onset of symptoms. They worked at My First Skool @ 303 Canberra and PCF Sparkletots Pre-school @ Gambas.

 

How come these two still went to work when they had symptoms?  Didn't they know they could spread the virus?

 

[single42]

 

this is the latest figure from WHO WESTERN PACIFIC REGION

[jlone]

Really put our country to shame! But now they have to let the whole world know that they treat the workers well by providing them everything FOC n willingly.

That's their tactics. But please bear in mind that all these are from the taxpayers' hardearned reserved money.

But when come to paying of CPF money after retirement to their own citizens, it's very difficult to get the money. And it will be more difficult in the future

for the sinkies to smell the CPF money because they have taken out too much from the reserves during this pandemic already.

[single42]

[singalion]

 

 

Khaw Boon Wan: “The risk to commuters is low,” netizens raise concerns

6 hrs ago

 

In a recent Facebook post, Singapore Minister for Transport and Minister for Infrastructure Khaw Boon Wan discussed the new safety measures that will be taken within public transportation vehicles in order to limit the spread of Covid-19.

“Fortunately, with low community spread in Singapore, the risk to commuters is also low,” he said, before stating that heightened measures will be taken to reduce the risk even further. Netizens, however,  raised concerns of their own.

 

Mr Khaw on Tuesday (May 21) took to Facebook to discuss precautionary measures that would be taken by the Ministry of Transport in order to help contain local transmission of Covid-19. With measures set to ease up in a gradual series of phases beginning June 2, Mr Khaw addressed the expected influx of commuters who will be returning to work and school. “With ridership going back up, trains and buses will be more crowded, especially during peak periods. We will increase capacity of the trains and buses to the maximum,” he wrote.

 

Citing the infamous social distancing measure, Mr Khaw addressed the issue of it being hard to implement in confined spaces such as public transportation vehicles. “This poses a challenge for public transport,” he said, arguing that it would be even more difficult during peak hours.

 

Mr Khaw said that two additional key measures are being implemented in order to further reduce the already “low risk to commuters” –enhancing disinfecting operations “on all high-touch surfaces” within vehicles and requiring all commuters to don a mask and observe proper hygiene while inside public transport.

 

“Commuters can further protect fellow commuters by not talking loudly, either to one another or on their phones,” he said. “Above all, stay home if you feel unwell.”

 

In response to his post, netizens commented on some issues they had with the measures. While some questioned if the precautions would be effective especially at the peak of the day, when an influx of commuters is expected, others asked if additional carriages would be provided for certain routes.

[singalion]

Published May 21, 2020, 7:15 pm SGT

Calvin Yang

 

Coronavirus: Residents can collect improved reusable masks from May 26 to June 14

SINGAPORE - Singapore residents can collect improved reusable masks from next Tuesday (May 26), in a third mask distribution exercise that will span three weeks.

The latest distribution of new masks - which are more comfortable to wear and have better filtration qualities - will continue until June 14. The previous two rounds lasted about a week each.

About six million reusable masks have been prepared for the exercise, similar to the previous one. Collection counters will be set up at 109 community clubs (CCs) and 661 residents' committee centres (RCs) across Singapore.

This time, residents can also pick them up from 24-hour vending machines. Some 400 machines will be placed at all CCs for those unable to pick up their free masks from the collection counters.

Will the vending machines have buttons? Who is cleaning the buttons after every use?

[lonelyglobe]

9 hours ago, jlone said:

Really put our country to shame! But now they have to let the whole world know that they treat the workers well by providing them everything FOC n willingly.

That's their tactics. But please bear in mind that all these are from the taxpayers' hardearned reserved money.

But when come to paying of CPF money after retirement to their own citizens, it's very difficult to get the money. And it will be more difficult in the future

for the sinkies to smell the CPF money because they have taken out too much from the reserves during this pandemic already.

I remember they spent something like 20 million to stage the trump-kim meeting in SG but at least that bring out a positive image of SG but this time by messing up this crisis, not only did it bring shame to SG but also in terms of the economic costs, cost of building all those temporary facilities,  relocating, medical, food, devastating effect of CB and the cost of practicing social distance may soon be pass on to consumer, all these could have avoided if there are a little bit more hindsight from these million dollar pay ministers. 

Edited May 22, 2020 by lonelyglobe

[singalion]

A different voice on the Coronavirus handling in Singapore (some others here posted similar opinions throughout the discussions)

 

 

4G leaders mishandled Covid-19 crisis from the beginning: PSP’s Tan Meng Wah

 

5 hrs ago/ 24/05/2020

 

Singapore — The Covid-19 crisis was mishandled in the country from the very beginning when political leaders rather than medical experts were brought in to lead the task force assigned to deal with it, according to Dr Tan Meng Wah of the Institute of Policy Studies in a post on Facebook on Thursday (May 21).

 

 

The task force has been composed of fourth-generation (4G) ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) leaders, with Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in an advisory position.

 

“Right from the start, the objective appears to be using the task force as a political platform for the 4G leaders to win the trust of Singaporeans by repeating the success of the 2003 Sars outbreak when Singapore emerged relatively unscathed. The ruling party eagerly wanted to show that its new generation of leaders were just as capable in dealing with the challenges of managing the crisis while keeping the economy afloat.”

Covid-19: Why the 'Mishandling'?The Seed of the Mishandling Sowed Right from the StartThe seed of ‘missteps’ has…

Posted by Meng Wah Tan on Thursday, May 21, 2020

Dr Tan, who is on the policy team of Progress Singapore Party, pointed out that prior to the pandemic, the country was already showing external and internal vulnerabilities.

Along with economic competition from China and other less expensive countries in the region, Singapore had been caught in the midst of US-China trade tensions that threatened to undermine the country’s decades-long multilateral international trade regime.   

As for its internal issues, Singapore had experienced growing inequality, higher living and business costs, an influx of foreign workers, an ageing population, a decreasing fertility rate, among other problems, including, according to Dr Tan, “the lack of transparency in the management of the national reserves”.

He attributed these issues to “the rent-seeking growth model and deliberate government policies” which had benefited only a few. And while the country as a whole had  accumulated more wealth, this had not been equally distributed, resulting in families in lower-income brackets suffering more difficulties.

Dr Tan wrote that the 4G leaders’ political strategy to bolster support had “backfired”, as it had “led to decisions being made based more on narrowly-focused political considerations at the expense of efficacy of the healthcare system and of the broader interests of the populace”.

One example he mentioned pertained to face masks. He said the task force “decided right from the beginning that because there were not enough masks to go around, it was better to tell the general population not to wear masks. In other words, people should not wear face mask not because it is not effective in preventing the spread but because there is a shortage of face masks. What should have been the correct decision based on medical science or even common sense had been trumped by political considerations.”

“Their decision was echoed by the Prime Minister on his Facebook posting on Jan 30.”

Dr Tan said this was done even after four doctors in Singapore had warned in early February that face masks may be needed because there were asymptomatic carriers of the disease. He pointed out that their advice was in line with that of medical professionals from Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In Singapore, however, it was not until April 3, when infection rates were rising, that the authorities said they would “no longer discourage people from wearing masks”. By April 14, not only had masks become required when out in public, but Singapore had been put under circuit breaker restrictions were extended to nearly two months.

Dr Tan said Singapore’s global reputation had suffered a blow. And the impact on its economy, particularly to SMEs because of the circuit breaker, as well as to households, had  been “tremendous”.

And while he agrees that there is much to learn through hindsight, it cannot be denied that the Government had been offered “well-meaning suggestions, opinions and criticisms” from early in the crisis, which were ignored.

“The root of the problem is the unwillingness of the Government to listen to alternative views because of the arrogance among the top political leadership that only they know what is best for Singapore. But it’s not just their hubris. The ruling party is also bent on stamping out opposing voices so as to preserve the status quo stacked disproportionately in their favour.”

Dr Tan ended his post by saying he believed that the mishandling of the current crisis would give rise to “fundamental soul-searching” among Singaporeans as the country geared up for a General Election.

He wrote: “Singaporeans really need to ask themselves whether the current rent-seeking socioeconomic model (favouring the capital and asset owners at the expense of wage earners) and the exploitative politico-economic model (smacking of elitism and cronyism) will continue to serve Singapore and the coming generations well in a future wrought with rising uncertainty.”

 

/TISG

 

[jlone]

Just remember

Now the three letters are VTO for the ruling party and VTI for the opposition parties!

Edited May 24, 2020 by jlone

[lonelyglobe]

When the time to vote does come, Mr Chan thinks Singaporeans "are wise enough to look at the government performance not just on an episodic event", but how it has done in the long term.

 

What a subtle way to acknowledge failure to handle the crisis,  yes from day one when they are playing fighting the fire game instead of preventing fire,  we should have prepared for the big mess. 

 

While other countries are taking actions to revive their economy,  we are still In the midst of a lockdown and bear in mind we only had about 10% of the total 300k workers tested.  

 

Allowing transit pax from 2 Jun is not going to help the majority but only SIA. While we feel sorry for all the local retailers, this lock down would have been avoided or shorterned if they have not mess up the dormitory. 

 

Yes,  I don't understand why the team is not comprise of medical experts like the one in Taiwan, instead is a few 4G ministers without any crisis handling experience and not much hindsight but very defensive and arrogant attitudes. 

 

In short, these 4G leaders need to step down. 

 

 

Edited May 24, 2020 by lonelyglobe

[jlone]

1 hour ago, Since u r here said:

can teach us what does it mean?

VTO = vote them out!

VTI = vote them in!

[bigdanbeam]

25 minutes ago, Since u r here said:

 

Warn only? Thought is straitaway fine ?

[Guest Roberson Walker]

[jlone]

13 minutes ago, Since u r here said:

hoW generous! the first and ONLY pres in sg history that authorised the use of Reserves for SO many times....

Election is coming, so must take this opportunity to win more votes.

But dun worry as long as they are in power, they will collect back more !   

[jlone]

1 hour ago, Since u r here said:

hoW generous! the first and ONLY pres in sg history that authorised the use of Reserves for SO many times........

 

It seems that you are the only left reporting on this topic. The rest not keen anymore?

[Zackling]

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-singapore-confirms-383-new-cases-total-at-32343-071324738.html

 

COVID-19: Singapore confirms 383 new cases, total at 32,343

 

SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed 383 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore as of Tuesday (26 May) noon, bringing the total to 32,343.

While the vast majority of the cases are foreign workers living in dormitories, there is one Singaporeans/permanent resident case. The lower number of cases today is partly due to fewer tests being conducted, MOH said in a media release.

 

Dozens of clusters linked to foreign worker dorms have been identified thus far, including Singapore’s largest cluster of over 2,500 cases linked to S11 Dormitory@Punggol, followed by Sungei Tengah Lodge, Tuas View Dormitory and Jurong Penjuru Dormitory.

 

They are among the 25 dorms that have been gazetted as isolation areas. Some 400,000 foreign workers live in dorms here in Singapore.

Some 20,000 infected foreign workers are expected to be discharged by end-May, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong.

 

Over 15,700 discharged in total

With 862 more cases of COVID-19 infection discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities, a total of 15,738 cases here have fully recovered from the infection, said the ministry on Monday.

 

There are currently 607 confirmed cases who are still in hospital. Most of the hospitalised cases are stable or improving, while eight are in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

 

A total of 15,592 cases with mild symptoms, or are clinically well but still test positive, are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

 

Apart from 23 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, nine others who tested positive for the virus have died from unrelated causes, including three whose deaths were attributed to a heart attack and two whose deaths were attributed to coronary heart disease.

 

“Only cases where the attending doctor or pathologist attributes the primary or underlying cause of death as due to COVID-19 infection will be added to the COVID-19 death count,” said the MOH in previous press releases, adding that the method of assessment is consistent with international practices for classifying deaths.

 

It had also noted that 86 male foreign workers aged 25 to 59 died due to heart disease in Singapore in 2018.

 

As of 18 May, the ministry has conducted 294,414 swab tests, of which 191,260 were done on unique individuals.

 

This translates to around 51,600 swabs conducted per 1 million total population, and about 33,500 unique individuals swabbed per 1 million total population.