REACH (Telegram) 155 -  What are your thoughts on Singapore’s upgraded GDP growth forecast for 2026?

(SK)

12 Aug 2026 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

[12/8/2026 9:52 am] REACH Singapore: Dear contributors,

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[12/8/2026 10:00 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

On 11 August 2026, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced that Singapore’s GDP growth forecast for 2026 has been raised to 4.5%–5.5%, up from the previous range of 2%–4%, citing stronger-than-expected first-half performance and an improved outlook driven by global AI-related capital expenditure.

The economy grew 5.9% in the second quarter of 2026, slightly higher than the advance estimate of 5.7%, but easing from the 6.3% growth reported in the first quarter.

💬 What are your thoughts on Singapore’s upgraded GDP growth forecast for 2026?

📌 AI driven growth

Beh Swan Gin, Permanent Secretary at MTI, stated that second-quarter growth was driven by strong performances in the manufacturing, wholesale trade, and finance and insurance sectors, with robust AI-related demand boosting the electronics and precision engineering clusters. For the rest of 2026, a further acceleration in AI-related capital expenditure is expected to lift the growth prospects of economies plugged into the global technology value chain.

Beh added that Singapore's growth has been broad-based rather than solely reliant on the AI boom, benefiting sectors such as finance, infocommunications, precision engineering, and wholesale trade.

📌Global Risks and Sectoral Impacts

The impact of the Middle East conflict was less severe than initially feared. However, ongoing tensions and lower oil reserves are likely to keep energy and other input prices elevated through the rest of 2026, exerting upward pressure on global inflation and weighing on economic activity. Sectors affected by supply disruptions, particularly those reliant on petrol and petroleum-related feedstock, such as chemicals and F&B, are expected to remain weak, while elevated fuel costs may dampen demand in the transportation and accommodation sectors.

US tariffs are expected to continue weighing on the exports of affected economies, though Singapore does not currently anticipate an impact from the 12.5 per cent tariff imposed on exports to the US.

📌 Domestic performance and support

Domestically oriented sectors like construction remain resilient, supported by a pipeline of public and private projects, while government measures such as CDC vouchers aim to cushion the impact of higher living costs on the retail and food and beverage sectors.

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/business/singapore-upgrades-2026-growth-forecast-to-4-5-to-5-5-on-stronger-ai-boom

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/economy-gdp-forecast-mti-growth-6310711

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ai-gdp-economy-manufacturing-finance-6312146

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[12/8/2026 11:00 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 1. I am confident in Singapore's short to medium term economic outlook. ]

- Strongly agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly disagree

[12/8/2026 11:00 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 2. I feel that Singapore's improved economic growth has benefited Singaporeans as a whole. ]

- Strongly agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly disagree

[12/8/2026 11:02 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR from you on today’s topic! 

💬 What are your views on Singapore’s upgraded GDP growth forecast for 2026? 

We look forward to hearing from you and hope to keep the discussions robust and active!

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

[12/8/2026 1:27 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. Looking at the 1st and 2nd quarter GDP figures, it shows a very strong growth 5.9% to 6.3% - much higher than the 2 or so % annual GDP we experience since our Economy has become a Developed State.

2. This come at the back of :-

a. Disrupted global supply chain - from Trump's tariff

b. Geopolitical tussle

c. War - in Ukraine and Middle East

d. Energy crisis - from the blockage Hormuz Straits and Red Sea on fuel export

3. The Economic Performance is consider exceptional - largely fuel by exponential demand for AI that drive demands for IT products such as chips, memory, servers, IT equipment - in which we are a semiconductor hub.

4. In turn the advanced manufacturing demand - trigger demands in finance, IT, precision engineering, logistics, wholesale trade, shipping, air cargo etc.

5. Our finance hub also attracted large financial capital from troubling region such as middle east, regional economy, EU into financial market fueling growth in banking for wealth products, insurance and other financial products.

6. Together with our domestic fuel construction activities like oncoming MRT projects, BTO flats, public projects like long-island etc - it takes our GDP figures into a new height - triggering high Economic growth, Business and Jobs.

7. However, there are still some anxiety and worries despite such a bright prospect in our Economy - which we can discuss later.

[12/8/2026 1:41 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Advent of AI

1. The advent of AI - that start to threaten to replace some entry-level white collar jobs and robotics that threaten blue collar jobs which also threaten the traditional business.

This require transformartion in the way we :-

a. Conduct our business. That is business need to transform to exploit AI, improve productivity to support the business - resulting in the needs for business transformation. This cause anxiety to businessman and boss.

b. The job role -- for entry level and mature white collar jobs are also transformed with the advent of AI.

Workers no longer can do the entry level or mature worker jobs the same as before - and need skillsets that should be :- AI-competent + skillsets and knowledge train in their respective domain.

c. Schools, IHLs -- also need to revamp their course curriculum to encompass :-

i. Domain knowledge and skills - in the respective industries and trade

ii. AI competency - to complement the respective domain knowledge and skills

iii. Industry relevant skillsets and knowledge that will be needed in the respective job roles.

[12/8/2026 2:01 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[12/8/2026 2:02 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

The debate on - MNCs (reducing jobs while exploiting AI) and shift away from MNCs to SMEs

1. The ongoing debate to shift away from MNCs and focus on SMEs as proposed by WP in the Parliament for its proposed Future Economy Playbook - has triggered anxieties and worries in many Singaporean workers as surface in the social media eg. TikTok - where many influencers have produced videos to voice their concern.

2. The following is a summary of what livestreamers have to say about WP Future Economy Playybook - which they warn WP will bring the Economy down, drive away MNCs and kill jobs :-

After note:-

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4gGTuLH/

Jamus Lim bungle on anti MNCs.

CNA news:-

Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC) and Tiong subsequently clarified that the WP was not proposing a zero-sum shift away from MNCs.

Both parties landed on a consensus that MNCs and trade remain vital to Singapore’s next phase of growth, though Tiong said in closing that the WP sought an evolution towards younger local firms and away from how dominant MNCs and government-linked companies are in the economy.

The WP argued that its proposed redundancy insurance, which anyone who is retrenched would qualify for, offers better protection than the Government’s SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme. 

The Government countered that its approach has always been to support re-employment, not unemployment.

----

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4GMGf5p/

WP Kenneth Tiong on SMEs.

@Babe:Both WP Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong coin an anti-MNC stance in Parliament while drilling in on SME driven economy.

This is sending a anti-MNCs message that are producing high paying jobs to Singaporeans.

A sure way to deter MNCs to bypass Singapore and stop creating jobs for Singaporeans.

Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC) and Kenneth Tiong subsequently clarified that the WP was not proposing a zero-sum shift away from MNCs.

----

@Babe:Very obvious that WP, Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong have no good solutions to Singapore economics transformation - except to take PAP cookbooks - to criticize and find cracks - to assert do more, do better.

A very easy job for oppositions, WP to exploit when they have no good solutions.

====

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4nryEqc/

Jamus Lim say can dispense with MNCs and create our own Samsung.

@Babe:Many SMEs in Singapore sign contracts with many MNCs as logistics and parts suppliers.

If you chase MNCs out of Singapore, not only high paying jobs for Singaporeans will lose their jobs.

Many SMEs in Singapore will collapse as well not to mention creating our own Samsung.

Talk is easy.

Your economics is not pragmatic at all and is fatal to Singapore economy, business and jobs.

@Babe:Imagine telling the following MNCs to leave Singapore:-

1. Citibank

2. AIA

3. Microsoft

4. Google

5. Shoppe

6. IBM

7. Cisco

8. HP

9. TikTok

10. Huawei

11. Siemens

12. Philips

13. Samsung

14. TSMC

Etc.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4WqpcrN/

Jamus Lim - creative destruction.

----

It is fatal and suicidal to Singapore economy.

Many of our Singaporeans high paying jobs will be gone.

Many of our SMEs, supporting industries, contractors, logistics etc supporting these MNCs will collapse.

I think WP Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong are out of their minds.

----

Livestreamers producing videos to debunk WP Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong flaws in pivoting away from MNCs and solely focus on SMEs.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4cyWQ1F/

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS474B7w2/

Livestreamer support Minister Jeffrey Seow - Singapore needs both MNCs and SMEs.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4gGTuLH/

Livestreamer - Jamus Lim bungle on anti MNCs stance.

You kill the golden goose that lay the golden eggs.

====

[12/8/2026 2:22 pm] LCL (Danny 心): ----

Anxieties on whether the ongoing life long learning through Skillsfuture can land retrenched workers new jobs through career conversion or job retraining

1. Some livestreamer produce videos to say the Government has painted a playbook that once a person go through education, graduate from IHL - will have a life long career - and can feed themselves and their family until old age.

2. But with AI and other disruptors - this playbook can no longer stand water.

3. This trigger the youth anxiety - that their career future is not as good as painted by the playbook. And they are anxious, will they be able to feed themselves, get married, bear children and start a family and raise them up, and get financially sufficient into their retirement.

4. Government new playbook - is continuous learning through Skillsfuture - to re-train and career conversion through training courses to land a new jobs - ensure continuous income and ensure sufficiency into retirement.

5. Now some of this livestreamers attempt to throw cold water on this life long learning claiming - to switch career or career conversion - short few weeks courses is not sufficient to land a new job or switch a career. It require another 3 to 4 years of IHL training.

---

[12/8/2026 2:33 pm] LCL (Danny 心): Monday, August 10, 2026

Certification course cannot find jobs? Not true.

 https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4nrbk18/

Training and jobs need years of training to find jobs.

Short Certification course cannot find jobs.

---- 

I beg to differ :-

@Babe:1. If one take a network certification course eg. CCNA, CCNP, CCIE - a few days course, complete the lab, take the test after the course and pass - you can find a network engineer jobs. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

2. If a person take a few days Microsoft MCSE course, do the lab, take the certification exam and pass, you can find a system engineer job. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

3. If you take the CISSP course and pass the exam, you can start as entry level CISSP Associate cybersecurity job - and then gain working experience. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

4. If a person take VTP VMware course and take a certification exam, the person can find a system virtualisation and cloud engineer job. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

No need to study a few years to find an engineer job.

So what you say in this video is not true.

https://babe118.blogspot.com/2026/08/certification-course-cannot-find-jobs.html

[12/8/2026 2:47 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Anxieties about the need for nature reserve conservation versus the competing needs to build sufficient BTO flats for the young couples, singles who wish to stay in their own flat, elderly who want their own BTO flats for retirement

1. Recently the debate on clearing the Maju forest at Clementi has draw some backlash from nature conservatives and environmentalist for clearing the green forest, and not observing the mantra of green sustainability, global warming.

2. There is another sides of the coin, that is those who want BTO flats fast to get married, start a family, singles who want their own BTO flats, elderlies who want to own BTO flats to retire.

3. So the 2 competing needs and desires clash and manifested in the recent hot Parliament debate.

4. However, the following are my observations after some fact findings to put the hot debate in perspective :-

https://babe118.blogspot.com/2026/08/maju-forest-is-not-part-of-nature.html

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4cHv9YS/

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4cEqLXY/

Is maju forest part of nature reserve?

@Babe:Maju forest is not part of nature reserve.

It is a cleared State land for building BTO whereby trees regrow back on the cleared land.

It is a land slated for housing development.

====

Source:- Google Gemini AI 

@Babe:Maju Forest is not part of a nature reserve. It is a regenerating secondary forest located near Sunset Way and Clementi Road. 

Forest Status & Land Use

Zoning: The 23-hectare site has been zoned for residential use since 1980.

Not a Reserve: It does not hold official protected nature reserve status like the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or the Central Catchment.

Development Plans: The Housing & Development Board announced plans to convert about 15 hectares of the land into public housing.

Conservation: Around 8 hectares will be kept as a wildlife refuge and nature trail around a natural stream.

====

[12/8/2026 2:59 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Anxieties about a few successive closure of F&B, restaurants some are very popular and successful local eateries - citing high cost (energy cost, rental cost, manpower cost, ingredient cost), too competitive food business, competiton from foreign large food chain, and opening of RTS (that could drive Singaporeans crossing over to JB to feast on cheaper JB foods)

"Soup Holdings ended FY2026 with a loss on higher costs and flat revenue".

Many f&b in Singapore making loss or close down.

But yet I find long queues in "atas" F&B in NEX every evening.

They are doing roaring business.

They mostly attract young customers who join and stay in long queues for the food.

Also I noticed food delivery - whereby household are ordering from Grabs, Food Panda etc like nobody business - even though the delivery charges and the ordered food are not cheap.

So very difficult for me to reconcile - whether f&b are doing well or face higher cost and doing badly.

https://www.theedgesingapore.com/capital/results/soup-holdings-ended-fy2026-loss-higher-costs-and-flat-revenue#:~:text=Soup%20Holdings%20ended%20FY2026%20with%20a%20loss%20on%20higher%20costs%20and%20flat%20revenue

========

[12/8/2026 3:02 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Anxieties about a few successive closure of F&B,...

1. Seems to me like that customer consumption patterns have changed.

2. Those previous successful f&b are not able to seize on the changing consumption patterns to transform in time.

3. Hence result in business dropping and customers looking elsewhere for food.

[12/8/2026 3:32 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨1. Seems to me like that customer consumption patterns have...

[12/08, 3:28 pm] My close friend comments: 

Cannot keep eating the same thing. 

People get tired.

[12/08, 3:28 pm] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Hahaha.

True.

 

[12/08, 3:28 pm] My close friend comments: 

Novelty factor will wear out at some point in time.

[12/08, 3:30 pm] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Yes.

That is why business needs to be constantly in tune with the customer's needs and adjust to maintain and grow their business.

I think you got a good point.

I post for you.

[12/08, 3:32 pm] My close friend comments: 

Rising costs is definitely a factor but not the only factor.

[12/08, 3:33 pm] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Yes.

That's how I feel too.

[12/8/2026 3:35 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Anxieties on the population number are becoming bigger due to new citizens, PRs, foreign immigrants to complement our workforce and foreigners working in Singapore, the perceived overcrowding - are making some Singaporeans nervous of job competition, crowded infrastructure (such as MRT, bus, shopping malls) and that with AI boosting productivity can make do with lesser and smaller size population.

1. My thoughts are as follows :

a. Even though Singapore is a small size Country - an optimal size of population is needed to ensure :-

i. There is a need for sufficient sizeale talent pools to tap. Because not all people are born equally smart and intelligent. Some got talent to be Ministers and MPs for governance, some got talents to be in civil service to formulate government policies , some got talents to be CEOs, senior business management, some got talents to be Military commanders or Home Team commanders, some got talents for white collars jobs like STEM R&D researchers, professionals, engineers, some got talents as Suregeons, Doctors, Nurse, some got talents as Judges, Lawyers. some got talents as social welfare officers, some got talents in arts, culture, sports, some got talents as F&B, chefs etc, some got talents in finance, some got talents in Administrative jobs such as accounting, sales, corporate functions, some got talents in national security, police, prison staff, civil defence, soldiers etc.

ii. Doesn't means that we exploit AI, automation, robotics etc - we should keep our population small - and expect our populations to perform such a diverse comprehensive functions of our sophisticated and complex economic and industrial needs.

Even Superpowers like China, US, EU, India and Developed Middle Power like Japan, S Korea, Australia, Canada etc - cannot find such a diverse talents with a small population pools and need foreign talents to boost their population mix.

iii. Hence in addition to maintain our Singaporean population of 3.66 million, we still need complemented workforce and foreign talents to tap from - eg. 0.54 million PRs, 1.91 non-residents to ensure Singapore Economic needs, Industrial needs, National Security needs, Social needs, Healthcare needs etc --- can be met.

iv. In addition, assume our 3.55 milion can meet all our talents needs in economy, business, jobs, governance, security, social, welfare etc --- we still need to ensure our economic outputs and productions - can be consume domestically - to support our Domestic Economy - that is sufficient people to spend their income to buy food, good, retail products, manufactured goods and services - so that our F&B, retail stores, manufacturers, banks, insurance companies, Stock exchange, malls, transport like taxi, bus, MRT, PHV, tourists spots like hotel, attraction etc can survive and thrive.

To summarise and concllude:-

So keeping about 6.5 million people as Singapore population is about right - be it our 3.55 million Singaporeans plus the rest - to keep our Domestic Economy to survive and thrive is absolutely necessary - as well as to cushion against any external shocks on our exports - due to geopolitical tensions and external wars.

[12/8/2026 5:57 pm] LCL (Danny 心): Trump claims total control of Hormuz, demands Iran pay reparations as standoff deepens.

Trump and Iran will fight until the end.

Meanwhile I hope the Gulf States can bypass the Hormuz Straits through other routes like pipelines or other means to export the oil out to us.

Let the karma deal with Iran and Trump - politically both collapse and burn a big hole in their finances.

While we settle ourselves with alternative energy sources.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/11/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz-control-reparation-talks-.html

[12/8/2026 6:00 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨419. I post in REACH (Telegram)[1/4/2026 2:00 pm] LCL (Danny...

How the UAE Has Kept Its Oil Flowing Through Hormuz | OilPrice.com.

Through their oil pipelines that bypass both Hormuz Straits and Red Sea.

The oil pipelines now form the arteries that feed the whole world with oil and LNG as negligible and no oil can use tankers to pass through the 2 waterways.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/How-the-UAE-Has-Kept-Its-Oil-Flowing-Through-Hormuz.html

[12/8/2026 6:00 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[12/8/2026 6:02 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨How the UAE Has Kept Its Oil Flowing Through Hormuz |...

Indeed UAE and some Gulf States have been digging oil pipelines to bypass Hormuz Straits and Red Sea to export oil out of Middle East.

The world will not be held hostages by the blockade in both Hormuz Straits and Red Sea or pay the toll fees if it take months or even years to resolve.

[12/8/2026 6:03 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Indeed UAE and some Gulf States have been digging oil...

Meanwhile, we need to seriously go for green energy and loosen our dependent on oil and LNG.

[12/8/2026 6:10 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨How the UAE Has Kept Its Oil Flowing Through Hormuz |...

The United Arab Emirates has managed to boost its oil exports to pre-crisis levels as early as June, as it has kept pushing crude through the Strait of Hormuz and outside it.  

The UAE, which left OPEC on May 1, has found workarounds to the blockage at the Strait of Hormuz. 

It has been shuttling crude through the chokepoint to load it on larger vessels outside the Strait, maximizing the use of its onshore pipeline to ship crude from the west to the east of the country, bypassing Hormuz, and shipping tankers through the Strait in dark mode.  

[12/8/2026 6:11 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨The United Arab Emirates has managed to boost its oil exports...

Well done UAE!

[12/8/2026 6:13 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

419. I post in REACH (Telegram)[1/4/2026 2:00 pm] LCL (Danny 心):-

However, Gulf States should explore another very viable routes that is often overlook - which should be more cost effective and very unlikely to be block at the Hormuz or the Red sea straits.

This will solves the many decades of geopolitical tension in the Gulf States through many energy war.

[1/4/2026 2:01 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Den den den ....... Drum roll....

Gulf States should increase the pipelines from UAE and Saudi straight into Oman and through Oman ports - will bypass the choke points in Hormuz (Iran control) and Red Sea straits (houthis - Yemen control).

Then all the supertankers will berth at the Oman ports rather than going through Hormuz and the Red Sea.

This will solves the energy crisis once and for all.

The oil pipelines from UAE and Saudi can be buried deep underground - that cannot be bomb or sabotage - by ballistic missiles, drones or artillery bombardment.

But the underground pipelines need to be increase so that capacity can match those supertankers.

----

SCMP Published: 10:30am, 3 May 2026

‘Structural shift’: new routes for Middle East freight to bypass Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE lead a push for a new trade architecture with multiple nodes linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

The proposed alternative routes for commercial cargo would flow from ports in the UAE and Oman located outside the Persian Gulf, overland by rail through Saudi Arabia to Jordan, and then onwards through either Egypt’s Suez Canal or the Syrian ports of Latakia and Tartus.

[12/8/2026 6:18 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

This will teach rouge States to behave themselves, obey international laws and be a good man, good States.

No impunity for misbehaving States or personalities - because karma will catch up.

Meanwhile, we need to be the "Lamp upon the World of Darkness" - to guide the right behavior - dispel the thought of "might is right".

If we don't want the world to perish under the Universal Law of Karma.

[12/8/2026 6:23 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1 good idea - the whole world move.

[12/8/2026 6:45 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[12/8/2026 7:00 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

========

Maju forest is not part of nature reserve

 https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4cHv9YS/

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4cEqLXY/

Is maju forest part of nature reserve?

@Babe:Maju forest is not part of nature reserve.

It is a cleared State land for building BTO whereby trees regrow back on the cleared land.

It is a land slated for housing development.

====

Source:- Google Gemini AI 

@Babe:Maju Forest is not part of a nature reserve. It is a regenerating secondary forest located near Sunset Way and Clementi Road. 

Forest Status & Land Use

Zoning: The 23-hectare site has been zoned for residential use since 1980.

Not a Reserve: It does not hold official protected nature reserve status like the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or the Central Catchment.

Development Plans: The Housing & Development Board announced plans to convert about 15 hectares of the land into public housing.

Conservation: Around 8 hectares will be kept as a wildlife refuge and nature trail around a natural stream.

====

Certification course cannot find jobs? Not true.

Monday, August 10, 2026

Certification course cannot find jobs? Not true. 

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4nrbk18/

Training and jobs need years of training to find jobs.

Short Certification course cannot find jobs.

---- 

I beg to differ :-

@Babe:1. If one take a network certification course eg. CCNA, CCNP, CCIE - a few days course, complete the lab, take the test after the course and pass - you can find a network engineer jobs. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

2. If a person take a few days Microsoft MCSE course, do the lab, take the certification exam and pass, you can find a system engineer job. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

3. If you take the CISSP course and pass the exam, you can start as entry level CISSP Associate cybersecurity job - and then gain working experience. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

4. If a person take VTP VMware course and take a certification exam, the person can find a system virtualisation and cloud engineer job. Entry level - more than $4,000 per month job.

No need to study a few years to find an engineer job.

So what you say in this video is not true.

https://babe118.blogspot.com/2026/08/certification-course-cannot-find-jobs.html

========

REACH (Telegram) 154 - What are your thoughts on Singapore’s future economic strategy? What should be prioritised to ensure Singapore remains competitive while creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans? 

(SK)

06 Aug 2026 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

[6/8/2026 9:56 am] REACH Singapore: Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

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Thank you. 

Megan 😊

[6/8/2026 10:00 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

On Aug 5, Parliament debated Singapore’s future economic strategy following a Workers’ Party (WP) motion titled “An Economy of the Future that Works for All Singaporeans”. Ministers outlined the Government’s approach to maintaining a trusted and open economy, strengthening local and global enterprises, investing for the long term and helping workers prepare for change.

Transport Minister and Second Minister for Finance Jeffrey Siow said he found agreement with several ideas raised during the debate, including providing better support for SMEs and start-ups and building a stronger base of local companies. He said these suggestions were “very much in line with the direction” of the Government’s Economic Strategy Review (ESR), and that there was “considerable common ground”. However, he disagreed with the characterisation that Singapore’s economic model was imbalanced and needed to be fundamentally reoriented.

💬 What are your thoughts on Singapore’s future economic strategy? What should be prioritised to ensure Singapore remains competitive while creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans?

📌 A united economic strategy

Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng said Singapore’s future economy would not be powered by one type of company, one source of demand or one government programme.

He said local companies, global enterprises, domestic and external demand, and Singaporeans and Singaporean capital venturing abroad are “mutually reinforcing parts of one united economic strategy”.

The Government will maintain a trusted and open economy, invest for the long term, address capability, financing and market-access gaps and help workers prepare for change.

Businesses must also transform and invest in their people, while workers must keep learning, investors must take informed risks, and entrepreneurs must build, compete and persevere, Dr Tan said.

While the Government cannot guarantee that every venture will succeed, every job will remain unchanged or every transition will be painless, it can ensure that every person has a fair chance to try, a pathway to progress and support to recover from setbacks, he added.

📌 Strengthening local enterprises and innovation

Mr Siow said Singapore needs both multinational corporations (MNCs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for its economy to thrive. He said Singapore is not in a zero-sum situation, as the growth of local companies and MNCs reinforces each other. 

SMEs are critical to Singapore’s economy as they employ the majority of the country’s workforce. Mr Siow noted that nearly $2 billion in direct grants is set aside each year for SMEs. The Government will help more companies tap these schemes and provide more resources if demand grows. Businesses can also receive support to improve productivity, redesign their operations and adopt digital and AI solutions.

Mr Siow acknowledged that it has become more difficult for SMEs to venture overseas in the current economic climate. However, he said Singapore should not turn inward, given the small domestic market. Instead, local companies should be strengthened to compete more effectively in more overseas markets and build greater resilience.

MNCs also bring resources, capabilities and technology, including AI capabilities that would otherwise take Singapore years to develop. Many local companies grow through their relationships with MNCs, while global companies create high-skilled and high-paying jobs. “We are not choosing between SMEs and MNCs. We need both,” Mr Siow said.

[6/8/2026 10:00 am] REACH Singapore: 📌 Supporting youths and entrepreneurs

Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash said the Government recognises the concerns that many fresh graduates and their parents have about entering the workforce.

However, he said the current employment picture was more resilient than suggested. In the first quarter of 2026, Singapore had about 32,800 entry-level professional, managerial, executive and technician vacancies, exceeding the number of graduates looking for jobs. About nine in 10 university graduates from the 2025 cohort also found employment within a year of graduation.

Mr Dinesh said the system had served Singapore well but must continue to evolve with a new generation of workers and a changing work environment. The Economic Strategy Review recommended bringing learning closer to work, including formally recognising on-the-job training as part of qualifications, to give young Singaporeans a good head start in their jobs.

He also said advances in AI and other technologies were making entrepreneurship an “increasingly viable pathway”. The Government is expanding support for promising start-ups to build, grow and reach global markets. The ESR recommendations will strengthen access to growth capital, technology, networks and overseas markets.

Dr Tan said Singapore’s ambition should not be measured only by how many companies are formed. It should also be measured by how many good ideas become viable businesses, how many businesses can scale, and how many anchor capabilities, intellectual property and good jobs in Singapore.

📌 Helping workers prepare for change

Dr Tan said most Singaporeans experience the economy through work. A good job provides income, but should also enable a person to build skills, experience and confidence over time.

Addressing concerns over job disruption, he acknowledged that job losses raise fears about income and whether a worker’s experience will continue to count. He said these concerns were real and should not be answered merely by pointing to aggregate statistics or the number of available courses.

Support for workers must therefore begin earlier. The ESR has proposed “career bridges” linking workers in at-risk roles to more resilient occupations through training, guidance and job matching.

The Government will maintain a trusted and open economy, invest for the long term and help workers prepare for change. Workers must also continue learning and adapting as jobs and industries evolve.

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/parliament-wp-motion-economic-review-6301206

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/parliament-affirms-amended-wp-motion-on-the-future-of-spores-economy

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/both-mncs-smes-needed-for-singapores-economy-to-thrive-jeffrey-siow

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/wp-support-youth-entrepreneurs-pap-parliament-motion-6301071

----

[6/8/2026 10:22 am] Jun Ming: Erm I think it's a mismatch of skill aspiration and the job we have in the market right now

[6/8/2026 10:23 am] Jun Ming: As what I have ask before would you recommend people to broaden their skill set or recommend people to sharpen into one specialist skill set

[6/8/2026 10:27 am] Jun Ming: When you start working both strategy have their pros and cons. 

If you start learning broadly you will gain many entry level skill set you will have no worries of job. But cons you need to spend a lot of money and time to learn and get licensing. So you can do the career switch

[6/8/2026 10:28 am] Jun Ming: If you start specialize your skills the pros is you earn much more quickly but you may get replace one day if that industry or that role got got replace or move out

[6/8/2026 11:30 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 1. I am confident that Singapore’s economic strategy will continue to create better jobs, higher incomes and opportunities for Singaporeans. Share your reasons in the chat! ]

- Strongly agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly disagree

[6/8/2026 11:30 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion.

The poll questions are pinned for easy reference and your vote is anonymous.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

💬 What are your thoughts on Singapore’s future economic strategy? What should be prioritised to ensure Singapore remains competitive while creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans?

Thank you.

Megan 😊

[6/8/2026 12:24 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your thoughts on Singapore’s future economic strategy? What should be prioritised to ensure Singapore remains competitive while creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

[6/8/2026 1:04 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion.

The poll questions are pinned for easy reference and your vote is anonymous.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

💬 What are your thoughts on Singapore’s future economic strategy? What should be prioritised to ensure Singapore remains competitive while creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans?

Thank you.

Megan 😊

[6/8/2026 1:09 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Source:- Google Gemini AI

As of current:-

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99% of all registered business enterprises in Singapore. 

They also employ about 70% to 72% of the country's total local workforce and contribute nearly half of Singapore's gross domestic product.

[6/8/2026 1:58 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Source:- Google Gemini AI  As of current:-  Small and...

Not sure what is new from WP?

Future economy playbook?

Sounds like a past running economy that have already been deeply entrenched in Singapore economy started at the beginning of 2000s after corporatisation from nationalisation.

An old cook book.

[6/8/2026 2:00 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[6/8/2026 2:01 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your thoughts on Singapore’s future economic strategy? What should be prioritised to ensure Singapore remains competitive while creating good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

[6/8/2026 2:51 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

My close friend comments:-

1. For SMEs, when they have no experience, no good business proposal with good prospects, good market demand with good customer base, providing taxpayers funds, jumping into business is a sure waste of taxpayer money.

2. The problem is as SMEs are small in scale - there are demerits - inefficiencies, lack of ability to attract talent and scale which are the main obstacles in growing the SME business.

3. It sounds like WP wants gov to provide more grants from taxpayers money to fund the SME business - Basically burn more money.

My comments:-

Yes there is nothing new to the WP future economy playbook which we have already implemented 2000s years ago except to :-

- do more

- do better

- meaning ask Gov to spend more taxpayer money.

[6/8/2026 3:22 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨My close friend comments:-  1. For SMEs,...

1. In addition, WP suggest legislating retrenchment insurance - with premium to be paid by both employees and employers.

2. What are the demerits of such retrenchment insurance:-

a. Employees and employers already have to set aside 20% by employees and 17% by employers for CPF.

This reduces the take-home pay for employees.

b. So if employees got to further pay additional amount to pay insurance premium for retrenchment insurance - how much money left for take home pay?

[6/8/2026 3:30 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

c. So if employers are legislated to pay some premium for retrenchment insurance - 羊毛出在羊身上。 That means employer will deduct from the employees salary to foot the premium - and leave even lesser take home pay for employees.

d. Also it means if employees didn't get retrenchment throughout their careers, then these workers are in fact subsidizing those workers that are retrenched - with no benefits to them, at their expenses with lesser take home pay.

[6/8/2026 3:34 pm] G in reply to REACH Singapore:

> ‎⁨Dear Contributors, Please take a moment to participate in our...

How to remain competitive?

Look hard at main business cost drivers and which entity controls the prices

1. Rental - driven up by REITS. Several of these REITS are govt linked, as at 2019 count, 54% of REITS are govt linked. Govt has significant control over rent prices

2. Utilities - prices set by govt

3. Taxes - quantums set by govt

Prices for necessities are controlled by govt. Yet govt will not lower them.

Instead of lowering them, govt chooses to increase cost of govt by coming up with more and more schemes for "targeted approach" that require more and more administrative work, which increases demand for tax dollars, which triggers demand for higher tax rates

Govt needs to overhaul their approach. Take a system level long hard look at themselves to identify unnecessary cost drivers that ultimately get imposed on businesses

[6/8/2026 3:34 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

e. There is a concept of FIRE - Financial Independence, Retire Early coin by the new generation.

So WP retrenchment benefits - is it to encourage all the rest of the workers to subsidize the retrenchment benefits of those who get retrenched to do FIRE - financial independence from retrenchment insurance and retire early at the expenses of all other workers working hard to subsidize them?

This means in no time, all the youth will get employed, pray to get retrenched so that they can reap the retrenchment insurance pay by majority of the working people - and our youth will adopt 躺平 (lay flat) and retire early - no workers want to work anymore - Singapore economy collapse as business leave Singapore.

[6/8/2026 3:49 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. Another thing that I want to comment about setting KPI on the number of SMEs to setup subside by the government grants.

2. What are the demerits of these KPI?

a. There will be a rush to meet the KPI number of startups or SMEs - regardless of whether the business concepts work or not, or whether they can penetrate the overseas market - using taxpayers money.

End up, alot of taxpayers money will be wasted because of the KPI set by WP.

[6/8/2026 3:49 pm] G in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨e. There is a concept of FIRE - Financial Independence,...

Don't need for that. With PAP policies, businesses are already exiting SG

[6/8/2026 3:50 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Source:- Google Gemini AI 

Singapore ranked 8th globally in the Kearney's 2026 FDI Confidence Index, jumping from 15th the previous year. Net inflows remained robust, with over S$55.7 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2026 alone, driven heavily by digital infrastructure, semiconductors, and AI-related ecosystems.

[6/8/2026 3:59 pm] G in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨1. Another thing that I want to comment about setting KPI on...

Yes. Let's not waste anymore taxpayer money than necessary.

Taxes collected are to fund govt. Govt budgets need to be slashed.. especially in this prolonged era of govt posture of "monitoring" / "wait and see". 

Smaller govt = less tax required = lower tax rates = more conducive for businesses

Govt also cannot maintain iron rice bowl mentality and practices. This contributes to wastage

[6/8/2026 4:00 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Job losses to AI and moving out of business to neighbouring economic zones?

 [26/05, 1:06 pm] ☸️  Danny 心: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSxxc2qWQ/

@Babe:1. Singapore FDI investment in 2026 - reach record high $58.6 billions per quarter hitting $197 billions.

FDI mainly in high end high value added sectors such as finance, technologies & IT and advanced manufacturing - producing high salary jobs.

2. Singapore median monthly salary reaches $5,775 (including CPF).

3. Singapore achieve full employment in 2026 (companies finding it difficult to recruit workers in Singapore).(Note :- in economic terms 3.1% unemployment is universally considered low - as there are workers not actively looking for jobs).

[26/05, 1:15 pm] ☸️  Danny 心: 

@Babe:1. Joint Development zone (with JB, Batam) missions is to rationalize joint attraction of global FDI into our investment zones - to capitalize and exploits the merits offer by each zones.

2. Eg. Singapore offer high values RHQ, logistics, financial services, high technology advanced manufacturing, well connected ports, air cargo etc but come with high rental and manpower cost.

3. JB and Batam - provides the advantages of low cost land rental, lower manpower costs.

4. Hence, Gardenia, H&M, Amazon that do online fresh groceries deliveries - are well suited to move into JB and Batam - because they require low cost, blue collar workers input - that does not fit into Singapore economic transformation landscape for advanced manufacturing and high paid jobs.

[26/05, 1:20 pm] ☸️  Danny 心: 

@Babe:1. StanChart job cuts are mainly corporate function roles, support roles that include positions such as risk management and regulatory compliance - that can be automated by AI.

2. StanChart however are increasing job roles to hire more relationship managers, accelerate product innovation, improve digital and client experience, as well as upgrade and launch new client centres.”

@Babe:1. Singapore financial capital under management has increase to more than $6 trillion - plenty of wealth relationship management jobs required by StanChart to tap the wealth management.

@Babe:The total financial assets under management (AUM) in Singapore's fund management industry has surpassed S$6 trillion, building upon the S$6.07 trillion (US$4.46 trillion) recorded prior to the latest growth period. 

The wealth and asset management sectors continue to see healthy client inflows, driven by the steady expansion of family offices and private equity. 

@Babe:So Singaporeans must be able to see the complete picture how Singapore economic transformation landscape are evolving in order to appreciate how Singapore business and jobs have been elevated into a higher value, higher income jobs - instead of being alarmed by some movement of business out of Singapore and retrenchment of some workers.

Able to see the big picture and connect the dots - will make Singaporeans more informed instead of becoming alarmist.----

@Babe:1. Through carefully calibrated economic transformation:-Singapore has become the highest GDP PPP per capita in the World.

2. Top 5 Global GDP (PPP) per Capita Leaders.The most recent figures from major global financial institutions demonstrate Singapore's dominant economic standing:

Singapore: \(\sim \$150,000 – \$173,000+\)

Luxembourg: \(\sim \$140,000 – \$158,000\)

Ireland: \(\sim \$140,000+\)

Macao SAR: \(\sim \$125,000 – \$135,000\)

Switzerland: \(\sim \$105,000+\) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]----

@Babe:Singapore is globally recognized as one of the most AI-ready economies and leading smart nations.The city-state’s strategy focuses on large-scale AI deployment and workforce resilience rather than building frontier models from scratch.This approach is driven by the National AI Council (NAIC) and the Economic Strategy Review (ESR).----

@Babe:1. In layman terms, do we want companies that offer $1,000, $2,000, $3,000 jobs - to make bread, clothing, pack grocery or do backend mundane excel spreadsheet, print invoice, go through paperwork.

[6/8/2026 4:00 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 2. Or do we want our Government to attract high value high salary jobs that pay $5,000, $6,000 to above $10,000 - that do advanced manufacturing such as AI chips, chips design, wealth relationship manager, AI developers, creators, R&D, etc?

3. Singapore economic resiliency transformation and national AI council is to create high salary jobs for Singaporeans.

====

"Some businesses will lose out amid deeper Singapore-Malaysia economic integration, but both sides will benefit: Tharman.

"We have to accept that, with the larger win, there will be some losses. And that is a mature way of thinking about the bilateral relationship, on both sides," says Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam."

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/president-tharman-malaysia-state-visit-economy-businesses-6255946#:~:text=Some%20businesses%20will,President%20Tharman%20Shanmugaratnam.

====

[6/8/2026 4:01 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[6/8/2026 4:11 pm] Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J: Different topic all together.  Someone here recommended kaki one service if need contact different agencies. If  we find any problem with our estate. Just to let Reach know need to make kaki simplified. I wrote in regarding something to do with parking. Send in the blk no. Plus pictures. It's robot is asking for the  location, while I am moving. Not a good app

[6/8/2026 4:12 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨If you start specialize your skills the pros is you earn much...

As for whether young undergraduates should take more broad base education to secure jobs when specialization change or drill in to specialisation and secure immediate jobs but when industry transform, it will lead to obsolency?

My suggestion is, take both broad base and specialization in IHL.

[6/8/2026 4:14 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Eg.

1. Take subjects that cut across domains and industries (eg. Business, Economics, Finances, Psychology, Marketing, Accounting etc).

2. Specialize in say computer science or AI, or computer engineering.

[6/8/2026 4:16 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J:

> ‎⁨Different topic all together.  Someone here recommended kaki...

The GPS take your location at where you stand, cannot travel by car and submit - because the longitude and latitude of the gps will change and capture the wrong location.

[6/8/2026 4:17 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

The accuracy of the gps location is up to 1 metre from where you stand when submit - can even zoom in.

[6/8/2026 4:50 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

My close friend comments:- Is the sme driven economy  inspired by china's 地摊经济？

My comments:- Sorry, how does it work?

My close friend comments: - China resorted to this method primarily because global demand weaken by covid by tariffs etc. so individuals can start setting up road side stall to sell their wares for survival. China is a big supplier also a big market. Excess produce and products hope to be absorbes by local economy.

My comments:- Don't know REACH participant can accept such concept or not.

My close friend comments:- Singapore being small, we have to depend on exports, and this needs scale, outreach which SMEs don't have the muscle to do. 

The result may be local competition to death.

My comments:- Yes. This is the problem face by our SMEs.

Except some can make it like Sheng Siong, Raffles medical, osim, money max, maxi cash, FuHua, Yeo Hiap Sing, Grabs etc.

[6/8/2026 5:08 pm] Jun Ming in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨My close friend comments:- Is the sme driven economy  inspired...

So we need a local ecosystem and help to bring sme to the altitude..

[6/8/2026 5:08 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨So we need a local ecosystem and help to bring sme to the...

Honestly, this is a hard topic.

Doing business is not easy.

[6/8/2026 5:09 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Especially when our Domestic economy is so small.

[6/8/2026 5:09 pm] Jun Ming: Giving them advice how to expand or what can be improve

[6/8/2026 5:10 pm] Jun Ming: Recently my father shop change some feng shui. Like how the store attract more customers etc

[6/8/2026 5:10 pm] Jun Ming: And maybe can give advice for ready businesses to expand overseas

[6/8/2026 5:11 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Giving them advice how to expand or what can be improve⁩

I think this was done in the early 2000s when venture capital, entrepreneurship, SMEs concept, government grants, follow GICs to overseas market, follow EDB, IE Singapore etc are coined.

Only few SMEs that I mentioned earlier make it.

[6/8/2026 5:11 pm] Jun Ming: Then identify what's the failure and what can we improve

[6/8/2026 5:11 pm] Jun Ming: I believe it's not just monetary issue

[6/8/2026 5:12 pm] Jun Ming: Maybe diplomatic issue

[6/8/2026 5:12 pm] Jun Ming: Or Singaporean are too honest

[6/8/2026 5:12 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Failure could be due to business concepts, business prospects, customer base, how to manage the business, risk management, managing different culture, expectations, availability of Management talents, workers talents, navigate foreign business and customer environment, money, resources, staying power, relationship etc.

Not easy.

[6/8/2026 5:13 pm] Jun Ming: Need to research on market and not based on imagination

[6/8/2026 5:14 pm] Jun Ming: Even research does not give real results

[6/8/2026 5:14 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Not easy.

[6/8/2026 5:15 pm] Jun Ming: But we start local first. If most of our local business barely survive in local than something is wrong

[6/8/2026 5:16 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨But we start local first. If most of our local business barely...

Because domestic economy is too small, too many competition will kill the SMEs.

Cost issues also a problem.

[6/8/2026 5:16 pm] Jun Ming: Gov need to protect local business

[6/8/2026 5:17 pm] Jun Ming in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Because domestic economy is too small,...

Reduce unwanted competition

[6/8/2026 5:17 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Protectionism will lead to inefficiency and taxpayers money will be drain.

[6/8/2026 5:18 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

See India, Malaysia etc that adopt protectionism, economy cannot flourish.

[6/8/2026 5:18 pm] Jun Ming: Then the strong will become stronger the weak will die off

[6/8/2026 5:18 pm] Jun Ming: Before getting strong

[6/8/2026 5:18 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Then the strong will become stronger the weak will die off⁩

This is what happens to our SMEs that grown like those I mentioned earlier.

[6/8/2026 5:19 pm] Jun Ming: For a oversea own business an extra 50% tax?

[6/8/2026 5:19 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Many smaller ones already die out.

Eg. Bike sharing is one example.

Ev battery charging companies - many also dying.

[6/8/2026 5:20 pm] Jun Ming: Or a local own business 50% less tax

[6/8/2026 5:20 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨For a oversea own business an extra 50% tax?⁩

Sorry I don't get your point.

[6/8/2026 5:21 pm] Jun Ming: So gov can implement for foreign business need to pay an extra 50% tax

[6/8/2026 5:21 pm] Jun Ming: And local business we reduce a 25% tax as an incentive

[6/8/2026 5:21 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Then many foreign investment that create jobs for local workers won't come in.

More Singaporeans lose jobs.

[6/8/2026 5:22 pm] Jun Ming in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨then many foreign investment that create jobs for local...

Then can add terms and conditions unless this company are able to hire 1k and above Singaporean

[6/8/2026 5:22 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Imagine if we do that, AIA, ibm, Microsoft, micron, Citibank etc pull out.

Then many high paying jobs gone.

[6/8/2026 5:23 pm] Jun Ming: So this will stop small and unwanted foreign business enter

[6/8/2026 5:23 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Then can add terms and conditions unless this company are able...

I think our trade Ministers have already negotiate very favourable terms for Singaporeans.

[6/8/2026 5:23 pm] Jun Ming in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Then can add terms and conditions unless this company are able...

Or your company have reach a certain amount of capital

[6/8/2026 5:24 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨So this will stop small and unwanted foreign business enter⁩

Economics is a very delicate topic that have many fine balances and many considerations.

Not a simple topic.

[6/8/2026 5:24 pm] Jun Ming: This is to protect sme to grow big enough to compete with big companies

[6/8/2026 5:25 pm] Jun Ming: Just like baby you need to protect them with care. When they grow up they can fight their own

[6/8/2026 5:28 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

You see, even WP who touted their future economy playbook and suppose to aspire to be our alternative government - got so many fatal loopholes.

As amateur economist - can easily spot those fatal loopholes.

Hence economic policies are no joke.

Cannot get it wrong.

One wrong move, the whole country finances, economy and jobs can suddenly crumple.

That is why I say economic is not an easy topic.

The whole world's government are struggling to do it well.

But not easy.

[6/8/2026 5:32 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Source:- Google Gemini AI 

Protecting local businesses through trade barriers or market subsidies

causes higher prices for buyers, less choices, and lazy local companies

. It also starts trade fights with other nations and hurts overall economic growth.

Economic Drawbacks

Higher Prices: Tariffs and import limits force buyers to pay more for goods, lowering overall public spending power.

Less Innovation: Protected firms face weak competition, reducing their drive to improve quality or cut costs.

Market Inefficiency: Resources flow into propped-up, weak sectors instead of high-performing, natural growth areas.

Trade Retaliation: Other nations may impose their own penalties, hurting export-heavy local industries.

[6/8/2026 5:53 pm] Jun Ming: Off topic I feel that tengah forest city is a scam

[6/8/2026 5:54 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Tengah where got forest city?

I thought in JB?

[6/8/2026 5:54 pm] Jun Ming in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Off topic I feel that tengah forest city is a scam⁩

Cause I don't see any forest

[6/8/2026 5:54 pm] Jun Ming in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Tengah where got forest city?  I thought in JB?⁩

Forest town

[6/8/2026 5:54 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Cause I don't see any forest⁩

Hahaha.

[6/8/2026 5:55 pm] Jun Ming: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/04/singapore-sustainable-smart-town-tengah/

[6/8/2026 5:55 pm] Jun Ming: False marketing

[6/8/2026 5:55 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Don't know.

Didn't realize it.

[6/8/2026 5:55 pm] Jun Ming: Instead forest are cut down

[6/8/2026 6:00 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[6/8/2026 6:03 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆 in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Off topic I feel that tengah forest city is a scam⁩

Tengah? Yeah somewhat yes in that it wasn't car-lite like LTA was saying.

[6/8/2026 6:03 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆: Feels like American suburbia when you go down the main arterial road.

[6/8/2026 6:46 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[6/8/2026 7:05 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

========

After note:-

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4gGTuLH/

Jamus Lim bungle on anti MNCs.

CNA news:-

Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC) and Tiong subsequently clarified that the WP was not proposing a zero-sum shift away from MNCs.

Both parties landed on a consensus that MNCs and trade remain vital to Singapore’s next phase of growth, though Tiong said in closing that the WP sought an evolution towards younger local firms and away from how dominant MNCs and government-linked companies are in the economy.

The WP argued that its proposed redundancy insurance, which anyone who is retrenched would qualify for, offers better protection than the Government’s SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme. 

The Government countered that its approach has always been to support re-employment, not unemployment.

----

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4GMGf5p/

WP Kenneth Tiong on SMEs.

@Babe:Both WP Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong coin an anti-MNC stance in Parliament while drilling in on SME driven economy.

This is sending a anti-MNCs message that are producing high paying jobs to Singaporeans.

A sure way to deter MNCs to bypass Singapore and stop creating jobs for Singaporeans.

Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC) and Kenneth Tiong subsequently clarified that the WP was not proposing a zero-sum shift away from MNCs.

----

@Babe:Very obvious that WP, Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong have no good solutions to Singapore economics transformation - except to take PAP cookbooks - to criticize and find cracks - to assert do more, do better.

A very easy job for oppositions, WP to exploit when they have no good solutions.

====

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4nryEqc/

Jamus Lim say can dispense with MNCs and create our own Samsung.

@Babe:Many SMEs in Singapore sign contracts with many MNCs as logistics and parts suppliers.

If you chase MNCs out of Singapore, not only high paying jobs for Singaporeans will lose their jobs.

And many SMEs in Singapore will collapse as well not to mention creating our own Samsung.

Talk is easy.

Your economics is not pragmatic at all and is fatal to Singapore economy, business and jobs.

@Babe:Imagine telling the following MNCs to leave Singapore:-

1. Citibank

2. AIA

3. Microsoft

4. Google

5. Shoppe

6. IBM

7. Cisco

8. HP

9. TikTok

10. Huawei

11. Siemens

12. Philips

13. Samsung

14. TSMC

Etc.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4WqpcrN/

Jamus Lim - creative destruction.

----

I think WP Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong are out of their minds.

It is fatal and suicidal to Singapore economy.

Many of our Singaporeans high paying jobs will be gone.

Many of our SMEs, supporting industries, contractors, logistics etc supporting these MNCs will collapse.

I think WP Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong are out of their minds.

----

Livestreamers producing videos to debunk WP Jamus Lim and Kenneth Tiong flaws in pivoting away from MNCs and solely focus on SMEs.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4cyWQ1F/

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS474B7w2/

Livestreamer support Minister Jeffrey Seow - Singapore needs both MNCs and SMEs.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4gGTuLH/

Livestreamer - Jamus Lim bungle on anti MNCs stance.

You kill the golden goose that lay the golden eggs.

====

REACH (Telegram) 153 -  What are your thoughts on the issues to be discussed in Parliament today? Which issue interests you the most?

(SK)

04 Aug 2026 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

[4/8/2026 9:45 am] REACH Singapore: Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in differnet forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use (https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/)/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

[4/8/2026 9:59 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

Parliament will sit today (4 August) at 12.00 pm. Planned housing developments in Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, as well as the retrenchment at the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) will be discussed.

💬 What are your thoughts on the issues to be discussed in Parliament today? Which issue interests you the most?

📌 Planned redevelopment of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks

At least 18 questions have been filed on the planned redevelopment of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, following public discussion sparked by Housing and Development Board's release of accompanying environmental and heritage reports for the areas on July 10. 

Under the plans, some areas of the Maju Forest along Sunset Way are proposed for public housing, while the remaining areas will be retained as wildlife refuges and ecological corridors. Gillman Barracks, a former military site with heritage buildings, has been proposed as a mixed-use residential neighbourhood comprising both public and private housing.

📌 GovTech layoffs

Eight questions have been tabled on the recent retrenchment of 93 GovTech staff. As the agency is moving away from relying on vendors, it is restructuring to develop and operate more of its own products, so that it can respond more quickly to national needs.

The retrenchment, announced on July 15, is the first phase of the exercise that will eventually see some 7 per cent to 9 per cent of roles affected over the next two years.

📌 WP motion on "economy of the future"

The Workers' Party has filed a motion to present its vision for Singapore's economy and its response to the Government's economic plans. 

📌 Other Issues

Other parliamentary questions will cover findings by the Auditor-General’s Office, the adoption and impact of artificial intelligence in Singapore. New Bills that will be introduced include the Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill, Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, among others.

👉 https://www.parliament.gov.sg/api/media/14effa11-ada1-42d1-ab1a-aad2794f165a/Order-Paper---7July2026.pdf

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/parliament-to-discuss-maju-forest-redevelopment-and-govtech-retrenchments-on-aug-4

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/parliament-gillman-barracks-maju-forest-govtech-layoffs-6294751

----

[4/8/2026 10:59 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 1) Which issue(s) are you most interested in for today's Parliament sitting? Share your reasons in the chat! (You may choose more than one option.) ]

- Planned redevelopment of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks

- GovTech layoffs

- WP motion on “economy of the future”

- Motion on compensation packages of parliamentary staff

- Adoption and impact of artificial intelligence

- Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill

- Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

- Others (please share your views in the chats below)

[4/8/2026 11:28 am] Jun Ming: The rate of demand of housing is abnormal. We have seen news that say we need to remove camp and forest to build.

[4/8/2026 11:28 am] Jun Ming: So we come to a conclusion that we are over populated

[4/8/2026 11:31 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference and your vote is anonymous. 

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

💬 What are your thoughts on the issues to be discussed in Parliament today? Which issue interests you the most?

Thank you.

Megan 😊

[4/8/2026 12:03 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear contributors,

Parliament sitting is now live.

Catch the livestream of today's Parliament sitting here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WNR8d4bLus

[4/8/2026 1:37 pm] G in reply to REACH Singapore:

> 📢 Topic 📢  Parliament will sit today (4 August) at 12.00 pm....

Deforestation to build more BTOs in a country with dropping TFR just means 1 thing:

More and more foreigners gonna be naturalised

[4/8/2026 1:39 pm] Daniel in reply to G:

> ‎⁨Deforestation to build more BTOs in a country with dropping...

Or less people per household.  Less and less multi generational households, more and more singles and couples without kids. So same amount or less people overall will still need more flats.

[4/8/2026 2:01 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[4/8/2026 2:03 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your thoughts on the issues to be discussed in Parliament today? Which issue interests you the most?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

[4/8/2026 2:21 pm] Andy: My thoughts:

Happy to have more land redeveloped in such a prime area. Forests are unusable space and land is better used for housing, malls, places of worship. Greenery is usually incorporated into estates anyway for heat regulation. I just know the preservationists will come at me 😂

Retrenchment is part of the corporate cycle. It's necessary to build a stronger business, for sustainability for long term growth and then increasing jobs again. It's unfortunate for those retrenched but I believe the assistance given after and package is reasonable. 

I'm excited for WP's vision... please be good!

[4/8/2026 2:25 pm] Adam: It is necessary and more environmentally friendly if sg clears forest to develop its land.

If not here then where? You see how many gas guzzling cars clog the causeway. Because dont clear forest here, okay to clear forest to buy house in malaysia, burn petrol to drive here? And the houses in malaysia even less dense, so clear more forest for a single household.

All the excuse of environmentalism is simply nimby behavoir and wanting to protect their property prices.

[4/8/2026 2:27 pm] Adam: So much people in singapore and many dont even have a house here. So where they stay? How they get here? Did they walk here or burn more fuel. Do they disappear at night or have a house on cleared land somewhere?

[4/8/2026 2:32 pm] Daniel: Yeah, maybe can consider clearing some landed estates as well for more high density housing. Seems a more efficient use of space.

[4/8/2026 3:13 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. There are few natural reserves that are earmarked to be preserved.

2. Other areas even some with forested trees are gazetted for housing development.

3. So as long as housing development does not intrude into the reserve forested areas, I don't have an objection to the plan housing development as long as heritage sites are preserved and trees are regrow to blend into the housing estates.

[4/8/2026 3:19 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. Concerning the adoption of AI, I understand that there is a need to pay for token if the basic threshold of usage is exceeded.

2. Some companies do pay for the basic plan.

3. But some heavy AI users will normally exceed the maximum token in the basic plan.

4. Hence, monthly, staff pay out of their own pocket to Anthropic to use the Claude AI.

5. Wonder can companies pool together to negotiate for a favourable price so that individual staff don't need to pay out of their pockets as they are using the AI to do the company's work.

[4/8/2026 3:22 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Btw Anthropic Claude AI is the most expensive among all the other AI models as it is a Frontier AI.

[4/8/2026 3:22 pm] Adam: I hope sg gov can nego so that AI is strong here

[4/8/2026 3:22 pm] Adam: From both consumer side and provider side

[4/8/2026 3:23 pm] Adam: If gov want give ai to all citizens. Dont make it such that the corp have a wasteful mindset. Charge through the nose for models because they know gov is footing the bill

[4/8/2026 3:23 pm] Ahin in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨It is necessary and more environmentally friendly if sg clears...

I think we need to strike balance. No doubt forest do have effect on global warming temperature and sea rise level... Use technology to find solution...

[4/8/2026 3:24 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Source:- CNA news

Artificial Analysis estimated V4-Flash's average cost at 3 cents per test, compared with 86 cents for Kimi K3, US$1.86 for OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol and US$3.15 for Claude Fable 5.

"Alibaba unveils its largest AI model yet, DeepSeek's latest model is ultra-low cost.

The developments highlight the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence by Chinese tech firms as Alibaba and DeepSeek aim to gain traction among global developers."

 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/alibaba-ai-model-deepseek-low-cost-6294501#:~:text=Alibaba%20unveils%20its,among%20global%20developers.

[4/8/2026 3:25 pm] Adam in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Source:- CNA news  Artificial Analysis estimated V4-Flash's...

Cannot just compare based on price. Have to balance with quality too. if the ai is free, you wouldnt trust it with quality code compared to paid model.

[4/8/2026 3:25 pm] Adam: Also there are security concerns. Dont want our IP and secrets leaked to external parties

[4/8/2026 3:26 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Source:- CNA news  Artificial Analysis estimated V4-Flash's...

The least costly is China Alibaba Qwen, DeepSeek, and Moonshot Kimi

[4/8/2026 3:27 pm] Adam: I wonder if trump and usa will raise a fuss if singapore takes a neutral approach to ai and ends up mainly using chinese models. 

Already many defense contracts with them later end up like turkey trying to get f35

[4/8/2026 3:27 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨Also there are security concerns....

Understand.

Companies with need for protection of intellectual property use close architecture by negotiating with AI company to build a closed AI - datasets are not leaked to outside.

But normal usage uses the Open model. It is this that the staff pay out of pockets as the token for Anthropic Claude AI - is the most expensive.

[4/8/2026 3:28 pm] Andy in reply to Daniel:

> ‎⁨Yeah, maybe can consider clearing some landed estates as well...

I am all for clearing landed... 😂 there are too many old ones deserted in core areas, just rotting away. There are actually so many landed enclaves around SG

[4/8/2026 3:30 pm] Andy in reply to Ahin:

> ‎⁨I think we need to strike balance....

Agree on striking balance, although 'balance' can mean different things to different people, we all have our own set of scales 🤷. 

IMO we are a grain of sand on a beach - take care of national interest before global interest. Adhering to global guidelines of course.

[4/8/2026 3:35 pm] Adam: When i was working around cbd a decade ago, i notice some places are not at full occupancy. Now my office in the east also not really that full. I also see many shops empty along the streets. Some close down too.

We might feel very crowded in malls or mrt, but actually much of singapore is pretty quiet if you walk away from the core areas.

[4/8/2026 3:36 pm] Adam: Singapore can probably optimise its space more. A lot of people wfh these days. My house every day packed because got at least one person doing their stuff

[4/8/2026 3:37 pm] Ahin: Rather than salvaging forest for residential which is irreversible.... Why not - redesign the scape to be more efficient?

[4/8/2026 3:37 pm] Adam: Can look to business areas. Industrial areas. Are they using space efficiently? Even in the army areas feels like they dont maximise their space. Also have the kiasu mindset to waste money or not get budget next time.

[4/8/2026 3:39 pm] Adam in reply to Ahin:

> ‎⁨Rather than salvaging forest for residential which is...

Yes. Both can be true. Imo singapore can still retain its greenery while building high. Unfortunately big trees and forest are not compatible with large buildings

[4/8/2026 3:39 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨I wonder if trump and usa will raise a fuss if singapore takes...

Security cannot use.

[4/8/2026 3:40 pm] Adam in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Security cannot use.⁩

Can. Run Kimi local is more safer that giving trust to a foreign entity that they wont do anything funny.

[4/8/2026 3:40 pm] Adam: The chinese models can be wholly owned in our own computers

[4/8/2026 3:41 pm] Adam: Assuming you have a million dollar computer to run it. We cant but a big org can.

[4/8/2026 3:41 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨Can. Run Kimi local is more safer that giving trust to a...

Don't know up to the company and government to do the security assessment.

I cannot comment on security issues.

[4/8/2026 3:42 pm] Adam: Only problem with chinese model is they block certain topics. But it can be sidestepped

[4/8/2026 3:43 pm] Adam: Actually all public models got some guardrails. Cannot talk about cbrn amongst other stuff so our military will be handicapped if we rely on closed source models. And claude is the worst at this.

[4/8/2026 3:44 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

I think there are some areas that we work with Chinese models.

Others work with US models.

But they don't mixed.

Security classification are also separated.

But I not in a position to know and comments how they are segregated.

[4/8/2026 3:48 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Source:- Google Gemini AI

Official land use allocations in Singapore designate 8% of total land area for public housing (HDB) and 7% for private housing (condominiums and landed properties combined). 

The allocation of land for :-

1. HDB flats 

2. Private Condos 

3. Landed properties 

Have been planned out with leasehold and freehold.

[4/8/2026 3:54 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. Another thing, I want to see what WP vision on our future economy will be.

I have roughly read what they have proposed at high level.

But it didn't excite me, because at high level, in early 2000s we have already been talking about it.

Some part have been implemented - like the startup, venture capital, private entrepreneurship, SMEs tagging along with GICs into overseas markets.

Only some SMEs are successful to venture overseas and grow, not too many.

Nothing new. More like 炒冷饭。(Fried cooked cold rice).

Probably WP can provide more details in the Parliament, then we can discuss with more depth.

[4/8/2026 3:55 pm] Ahin in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨Yes. Both can be true. Imo singapore can still retain its...

Not to mention the wild animal environment... surely, they will extinct

[4/8/2026 3:56 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

I will also like to attach another global ranking - in which Singapore also scored top global ranking.

----

"Which Countries Think They’re on the Right Track?" in 2026.

Singapore rank top.

Confidence level 86%.

 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/how-people-around-the-world-feel-about-their-countries-in-2026/#:~:text=SUBSCRIBE-,Which%20Countries%20Think%20They%E2%80%99re%20on%20the%20Right%20Track%3F,-Published

[4/8/2026 4:01 pm] REACH Singapore: In case you missed it, here are some updates from the parliamentary proceedings so far:

➡️ Gillman Barracks, Sunset Way plans not fixed as government weighs competing needs: Alvin Tan

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sunset-way-maju-forest-gillman-barracks-parliament-alvin-tan-6296786

➡️ New law proposed to lower en bloc thresholds for older condominiums

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/en-bloc-condominiums-property-thresholds-parliament-6296691?cid=telegram_cna_social_28112017_cna

➡️ New anti-scam laws target Carousell, TikTok account mules; online harms order fine up from $1m to $10m

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/new-anti-scam-laws-target-carousell-tiktok-account-mules-online-harms-order-fine-up-from-1m-to-10m?ref=top-stories

➡️ Of GovTech’s 93 retrenched staff, 42% are in their 40s: Jasmin Lau

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/of-govtechs-93-retrenched-staff-42-are-in-their-40s-jasmin-lau

➡️ Proposed changes to law for SCDF to prosecute suppliers of non-compliant bomb shelter products

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/proposed-changes-to-law-for-scdf-to-prosecute-suppliers-of-non-compliant-bomb-shelter-products

[4/8/2026 4:01 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[4/8/2026 5:04 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆: The grace fu response to the forest question was absolutely terrible. Every day I'm more and more convinced MSE is just the embodiment of greenwashing. What is the point of the ministry if you can't protect natural carbon sinks.

[4/8/2026 5:04 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆: No one even asked for a fight. We want you to do what the ministry is supposed to do yet you act all haughty high and mighty, trying to score political points as we plead you to save the forest.

[4/8/2026 5:05 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆: Not the first time grace fu acts like that in parliament already.

[4/8/2026 5:05 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆: I think the scariest thing is that PAP puts their worst candidates in the Central and West yet they make decisions to actively harm us, and at every cycle they just get rubber stamped to go back in again. Is all so hopeless.

[4/8/2026 5:06 pm] Jun Ming in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨So much people in singapore and many dont even have a house...

Then reduce the people in Singapore

[4/8/2026 5:13 pm] Jun Ming: I think it's a slap to our Paris agreement on deforestation if they proceed

REACH (Telegram) 152 -  What are your thoughts on the findings shared on the mental health impact of social media use on young people? What else can we do to address these impacts?

(SK)

31 Jul 2026 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

[31/7/2026 9:51 am] REACH Singapore: Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in differnet forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

[31/7/2026 10:00 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

An expert panel was convened by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in September 2025 to study the mental health impact of social media use. Yesterday, the panel released a report consolidating findings and recommendations for healthier and safer social media use among young people. 

💬 What are your thoughts on the findings shared on the mental health impact of social media use on young people? What else can we do to address these impacts?

📌 Several platform features were identified as problematic

The panel identified several platform features that may be particularly problematic for young people’s mental health.

These include direct messaging functions, which may expose young people to safety risks, including cyberbullying, harassment, and inappropriate contact from unknown users.

The ability to make anonymous or pseudonymous accounts may further reduce accountability and make harmful online behaviour more difficult to detect and address, the panel said.

Infinite scroll or autoplay functions that constantly serve up content to users may also contribute to problematic or addictive patterns of social media use, it said.

By removing natural stopping points, the platforms encourage users to remain engaged for prolonged periods beyond what they originally intended.

The panel also highlighted other features, like algorithmically curated feeds, which may amplify exposure to distressing or harmful content, even when a user's initial interest was benign.

Quantified social feedback mechanisms like visible "like" counts and follower metrics also encourage social comparison and validation-seeking behaviours, with potential negative effects on self-esteem and emotional wellbeing, said the panel. 

They "may accelerate the onset of internalising symptoms among vulnerable young people".

[31/7/2026 10:00 am] REACH Singapore: 📌 The wider mental health picture

The panel found that problematic social media use is more broadly linked to poorer mental health. This is backed by a growing body of local and international evidence.

In Singapore, about two in five teens aged 15 to 17 who spent more than three hours daily on social media report severe symptoms of depression. Young people who showed more addiction-like symptoms of social media use had poorer overall mental well-being.

Anxiety and depression are two of the most consistently documented mental health outcomes associated with problematic social media use, said the panel.

The panel added that heavy social media use disrupts sleep, which can in turn worsen depression and anxiety symptoms.

Problematic use is also linked to lower life satisfaction, particularly in early adolescence – around the ages of 11 to 13 for girls and 14 to 15 for boys. It can intensify social comparison, which can fuel body-image concerns and unhealthy eating habits, often driven by idealised portrayals of others’ lives online.

📌 Recommendations by the panel

Besides targeting harmful platform features, the panel recommended strengthening age assurance measures to more accurately identify users' ages.

The government should also empower young people to navigate the online environment in safe and healthy ways, and support their parents in guiding them to do so, said the panel.

The panel further recommended a whole-of-society approach involving families, schools, healthcare providers, community partners, platform operators and the government to better safeguard young people's well-being online.

MOH said the panel's findings and recommendations would help inform ongoing efforts to strengthen support for young people's mental health and promote safer digital experiences for young people.

📌 Singapore’s current measures

The panel noted that Singapore has already introduced a range of measures to promote safer use of social media, including a code of practice that requires certain social media services to minimise exposure to harmful online content for Singapore users, particularly children.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority also assesses the effectiveness of these safety measures.

The panel noted that some social media platforms have started introducing features that support safer use among young users, such as differentiated accounts with stronger parental controls for younger users.

Others have created resources alongside community partners to help parents guide their children in fostering healthy digital habits.

"These efforts provide an important foundation, and the government will continue to do more to protect users, especially children, online," said MOH.

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/social-media-likes-infinite-scrolling-direct-messaging-linked-to-poorer-youth-mental-health

👉  https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/moh-social-media-use-youth-6287801

👉  https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/expert-panel-submits-key-findings-and-recommendations-to-support-healthier-and-safer-social-media-use-among-young-people/

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[31/7/2026 10:20 am] Daniel: I really think this goes in the right direction. Addressing the problematic features such as infinite scroll, autoplay and algorithms drawing people into specific filter bubbles will help all of us while not really impeding on things like free speech etc.

I notice that for myself (not a youth anymore), that sometimes I get drawn to some random posts or videos on Instagram or Facebook and then regret losing that time later. I am trying to put the settings to minimise such temptations by restricting content to accounts I follow, but this is not possible on Facebook and on Instagram has to be toggled every 30 days. It is really evident that the platforms have no interest in implementing those features as it will reduce the time people spend on their product, so I think the government putting on some guardrails is the only way this is going to happen.

[31/7/2026 11:02 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : Q1: I am concerned about the findings on the impact of social media use on young people’s mental health. (Share your reasons in the chat.) ]

- Strongly Agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly Disagree

[31/7/2026 11:02 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : Q2: More could be done to strengthen support for young people's mental health and promote safer digital experiences for them. (Share your reasons in the chat.) ]

- Strongly Agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly Disagree

[31/7/2026 11:12 am] Jun Ming in reply to Daniel:

> ‎⁨I really think this goes in the right direction....

Agree

[31/7/2026 11:14 am] Jun Ming: I think social media and reels is too much brain rot

[31/7/2026 11:14 am] LCL (Danny 心): 

1. The recent 3 youth 14 to 19 years old reflect the direct influence of the harmful content of social media platform - to what they learn on terrorism, violence and translate into how they are going to carry out their intent.

2. In fact, 2 were a near miss - if not because they were nabbed just before they carried out what they see in social media and plan out what the social media taught them.

3. Our children in school and Nsmen lives will be threatened if they are not stop just in the nick of time.

[31/7/2026 11:15 am] Jun Ming: Too much ai created content, lack of creative originality.

[31/7/2026 11:17 am] Jun Ming: You look at the trend recently it really is meaningless. For eg. The trend of 67

[31/7/2026 11:26 am] Jun Ming: https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/volunteer-sexualised-primary-2-boys-moaning-noises-bend-over

[31/7/2026 11:28 am] Adam: What if the government make their own dating app? All dating app has unhealthy habits of first impressions. Loads of bots and low effort users. Perverse inventive by app dev to keep people paying. If govt make one then maybe boost singles sanity and tfr

[31/7/2026 11:30 am] 365: I am also guilty of doom scrolling and consuming too much unhealthy content, but I believe the responsibility lies with myself to control my actions, and not the government.

[31/7/2026 11:32 am] 365: Government controls this, then there'll be a next big time sink that corporates will come up with. It'll be a forever cat and mouse game, with regulations lacking behind. Once you have practiced good self control, corporate can't take that away from you.

[31/7/2026 11:33 am] Jun Ming: Very addictive. People nowadays including me lack of self control

[31/7/2026 11:40 am] LCL (Danny 心): 

Children must do age filter - to prevent them access to harmful content.

Children are not capable to do self control.

The recent youth exposure to terrorism demonstrate this.

And our society should not be left to chance waiting for mass incident to happen.

[31/7/2026 11:42 am] Daniel in reply to 365:

> ‎⁨I am also guilty of doom scrolling and consuming too much...

Yes, but there are limits to this. If a product is actively harmful and designed to make people addictive, then it should be regulated. These products are specifically designed to make us dependant and to overcome our self control. It's the same with things like cigarettes, for long tobacco companies have used those arguments as well.

[31/7/2026 12:36 pm] Jun Ming: Another harmful online content is pornography. How do we stop kids from exposing those things and search this things on their own

[31/7/2026 12:38 pm] Khai Mun L. in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Another harmful online content is pornography....

Cannot totally stop this.

The best we can do is give them proper alternative education and good role models

[31/7/2026 12:38 pm] Jun Ming: Cause I myself search for it in primary 5

[31/7/2026 12:38 pm] Khai Mun L.: Even china firewall and sexualization of mundane things cannot prevent

[31/7/2026 12:41 pm] 365: We shouldn't try to turn the internet sterile, but to raise the future generations to be resilient to the harms of the internet despite its environment.

[31/7/2026 12:47 pm] Daniel: I feel that the suggested measures in targeting the mechanics don't turn the Internet sterile. They don't affect content, just the way it is presented to us.

[31/7/2026 12:50 pm] 365: I think what has been done, the differentiated content for accounts of different ages is already plentiful enough. 

Yes, some kids will try to lie about their age and bypass restrictions. Just as a guardrail is there to protect people from falling over the edge, for anyone who is adamant about going past it, nothing will help.

[31/7/2026 12:55 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Many Ancient sages say :-

- see no evils 

- hear no evils 

- speak no evils 

- think no evils

Purpose is to guide people toward inner purity, emotional peace, and moral goodness by stopping harmful thoughts and actions before they grow.

[31/7/2026 12:56 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Even leaders can "m.. see, m... do".

[31/7/2026 12:56 pm] Jun Ming: I think sexual education on porn should start direct on primary school

[31/7/2026 12:57 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Eg. 

One rouge regime say "pay toll charges in Hormuz Straits".

A superpower also say, come let share, I also levy toll because I send my navy to protect.

An ASEAN minister also say, since Hormuz Straits can charge toll fees, our straits also can charge.

Then another ASEAN lawmaker say, why don't negotiate with the regime that charge toll fees and pay the passage.

And then all the hell break loose.

Precisely because, one start to:-

- think evil

- speak evil 

- do evil 

- others see evil, and then copy to think evil, speak evil, do evil.

And decline into a vicious cycle of:-

"M... See, M... Do".

[31/7/2026 12:57 pm] Jun Ming: From primary 3 we should start teaching safe use of Internet. And the consequences of doing harm

[31/7/2026 12:59 pm] Jun Ming: In this internet and ai stage we need to start these education asap

[31/7/2026 1:02 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Eg.  One rouge regime say "pay toll charges in Hormuz...

Until our Leaders come out in succession to "Be a lamp upon the Globe of Darkness".

- Think good

- Speak good

- Do good

- See good.

And guide the World to:-

- Think good

- Speak good

- Do good

- See good

[31/7/2026 1:07 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

In a corporate, a CEO and the group of leadership is a good example that I experience throughout my career:-

1. Leadership that preach and practice:-

- Think good

- Speak good

- Do good

- See good.

The whole company is full of positivity and staff are highly motivated.

And the corporate results annually perform well.

Staff don't poke one another at the back, because corporate leaders will straight away stop such bad office politics behaviours and promote good mutual interaction and collaboration.

All you need come one leader or more leaders that have toxic characters - the whole corporate will turn toxic.

Bad Office politics brew. Staff start to poke one another.

2. Same for a family - all you need is one negative member.

3. Or any community or in a forum.

[31/7/2026 1:11 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Hence, I don't believe leaving toxic video contents be it in social media, mainstream media or anywhere - will do any goods for our population.

一颗老鼠屎，能破坏整锅粥。

1 rat shit, can poison the whole pot of porridge.

Or Cantonese saying:-

搞屎棍。Stir shit rod.

Stirring up trouble in a peaceful settings.

Depending on mental strength and self control - I think in this world - very rare people have such mental strength.

Unless one attain :-

应无所住，而生其心。

Hatred/anger, greed, ignorance, arrogance, distrust don't arise in a person's mind - then it is possible not to be affected or influence by negative contents.

[31/7/2026 1:56 pm] G in reply to REACH Singapore:

> ‎⁨📢 Topic 📢  An expert panel was convened by the Ministry of...

What is MOH's response to the events unfolding in the US regarding Fauci and the covid response he led?

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/fauci-fifth-amendment-senate-hearing-questions-6285711

SG's covid measures basically followed whatever Fauci recommended, including discrimating against those that MOH deemed to be not "fully vaccinated" via VDS

However, it has since been established that Fauci's recommendations were not based on science but on his whims. (https://www.audacy.com/wwl/news/national/fauci-admits-covid-social-distancing-not-based-in-science)

 Treatments that were being explored by SG and showing positive signs (including prescribing vitamin C and ivermectin) were suddenly canned, exclusively in favour for the experimental covid jabs. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/anti-malaria-drug-throat-spray-reduce-covid-19-spread-in-closed-crowded-settings-such-dorms-nuhs-study-5648731

It turns out, that in almost all countries, issuing emergency use approvals for experimental drugs are illegal if treatments exist..

[31/7/2026 2:02 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[31/7/2026 2:04 pm] G in reply to REACH Singapore:

> ‎⁨📢 Topic 📢  An expert panel was convened by the Ministry of...

Going by the events that transpired during covid, it really does seem like MOH intentionally created the environment such that they can give emergency use approval for the experimental covid jabs

[31/7/2026 2:06 pm] Daniel in reply to G:

> ‎⁨Going by the events that transpired during covid,...

This seems to be quite off topic.

[31/7/2026 2:08 pm] G in reply to Daniel:

> ‎⁨This seems to be quite off topic.⁩

Well, going by how much off topic things have been discussed over the history of REACH telegram, this is par for the course since this topic pertains to national impact arising from govt decisions

[31/7/2026 2:41 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆: Is okay to be off topic. Those are just questions leading the discussion anyway. This is a space to discuss all kinds of Singapore issues.

[31/7/2026 2:46 pm] Daniel: Actually you are right. I was under the impression that the rules state it should be on topic. But either I misread that or they have removed it at some point. Apologies @t_l3e

[31/7/2026 3:50 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you on today’s topic! 

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

💬 What are your thoughts on the findings shared on the mental health impact of social media use on young people? What else can we do to address these impacts?

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! 

The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you.

Megan 😊

[31/7/2026 4:05 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[31/7/2026 4:51 pm] Jun Ming: Shall we also grow the numbers of psychologist and psychiatrist in Singapore since mental health is getting poorer

[31/7/2026 4:52 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

I feel that prevention is better than cure.

[31/7/2026 4:53 pm] Jun Ming: Need to do both mah

[31/7/2026 4:53 pm] Jun Ming: Prevention and cire at the same time

[31/7/2026 4:53 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Also mindfulness training of the mind - is best at keeping mental health at bay.

[31/7/2026 4:54 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Mindfulness training is to mental note bad consciousness from arising, note it.

Let it fade and prevent bad consciousness from disturbing mental mind.

[31/7/2026 4:57 pm] Jun Ming: Any ways of getting help from a parent perspective and from the victim perspective

[31/7/2026 4:57 pm] Jun Ming: Other than mindline

[31/7/2026 4:58 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Parents mental health and resilience as well as moral ethics must be strong before can help their children.

[31/7/2026 4:58 pm] Jun Ming: Because I find people are kind of helpless don't know what to do when their child is in depression

[31/7/2026 4:59 pm] Jun Ming: Or some weird symptoms that is being see as rebellious

[31/7/2026 4:59 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

If children depression，got to seek psychiatrist help.

Plus medication.

[31/7/2026 5:00 pm] Jun Ming: Polyclinic referral takes a long time

[31/7/2026 5:00 pm] Jun Ming: You can't just go imh directly

[31/7/2026 5:00 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Children at certain age are seen as rebellious or distance from parents.

Only parents who are able to win the children trust can get the children to open up.

[31/7/2026 5:01 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨You can't just go imh directly⁩

I think can get into emergency department if want immediate help.

But pay more.

[31/7/2026 5:02 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

But mindfulness training is able to tackle mental condition such as depression.

[31/7/2026 5:02 pm] Jun Ming: Is there any avenue of help in between the wait. As people with mental health usually are reluctant to seek for help also

[31/7/2026 5:03 pm] LCL (Danny 心) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Is there any avenue of help in between the wait....

Yes.

Not easy to coax mental patients to seek help.

Most important win trust and then coax the children to follow.

[31/7/2026 5:03 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Say it will help them to get well and be happy again.

[31/7/2026 5:05 pm] Jun Ming: That's why training more psychologist and psychiatrist to let the process faster and more support on families is important

[31/7/2026 5:06 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Understand.

But resources are always limited.

Thus prevention is also very important.

[31/7/2026 5:11 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Mindfulness training can develop:-

1. Mental strength 

2. Mental resiliency 

3. Positivity 

4. Clarity 

5. Insight 

- all these mental qualities are the defence against mental health deterioration particularly depression, negative views and mental grief.

[31/7/2026 5:12 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

And once a person develop such mental strength, there is no need to seek psychiatrist help.

[31/7/2026 5:13 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆 in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨And once a person develop such mental strength,...

I don't think this is a cause and effect thing but you know to each their own.

[31/7/2026 5:14 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆: Expansion in mental health care is always good since Singapore is just gonna get more and more stressful and so increasingly more people will need professional help with increasing awareness on mental issues.

[31/7/2026 5:15 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Depending on the type of mental condition.

Some are genetically driven mental condition that need psychiatrist and medication.

[31/7/2026 5:18 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Others are incident or environmental driven such as addicted to social media that drive negativity, promote dooming views - life is bleak, violence and other unwholesome views.

Then mental strength, resiliency, wisdom through insight and clarity will overcome such mental trigger conditions by social media.

If youth are badly affected by social media - the best is to be protected and filter all undesirable contents.

[31/7/2026 5:19 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

Stress is self driven due to weak mental strength and poor resiliency.

No one can stress you, unless your mental strength succumb.

[31/7/2026 5:26 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆 in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨Stress is self driven due to weak mental strength and poor...

Once again, to each their own.

[31/7/2026 5:32 pm] Adam: A lot of singaporeans are weak. Not willing to work hard and work overtime.. Not willing to upskill while in full time job. Not willing to spam resumes to jobhunt.

Thats why we need to spend millions hiring psychologists to whip them into shape. It is their fault for being so weak, and we need highly paid specialist to whip singaporeans into shape. Make them work hard, or die trying

[31/7/2026 5:32 pm] LCL (Danny 心): 

In the west, mainly US and Europe - many mindfulness training centres are set up to train their military, schools and community.

Surprisingly, in the east, we have less structured mindfulness training centres setup to build the population mental strength and resiliency.

[31/7/2026 5:39 pm] Adam: Perhaps there is a mismatch of expectations. Advancing technology supposed to make our lives easier. During our parents time, they can get very far with a secondary school education. 

New gen, go uni for what? Computers make us 1000x more productive yet quality of life isnt 1000x better. Hdb isnt a guarenteed when entering the job market or marry.

And we are making up excuses like social media eroding the mind while missing the big picture. Gonna be another kpi of a minister can congratulate and promote. Like beverage cans and plastic straws, its the individuals fault always.

[31/7/2026 5:39 pm] 여자친구, 첫사랑 🏆 in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨A lot of singaporeans are weak....

Weak and being unwilling to upskill can be 2 distinct issues.

[31/7/2026 5:52 pm] Adam: Our youths are stressed . No mental strength and poor resiliency. Thats why no employers want them.

So we need to hire strong people. From china. From india. They have the strength to travel thousands of kilometers.

We also need ai to do things faster as our gen is weak. We are a meritocracy and by pure merit, AI can do much more than humans. Can do jobs our weak minded youths cant.

We can try to train our youth to control the ai, but is it worth the money? Why train weak people when can hire strong ones. Maybe overseas, maybe existing singaporeans eho got retrenced. In a competitive job market its survival of the fittest. And you know what happens by darwins law

[31/7/2026 5:53 pm] Adam: If only we strengthen our youths mind by controlling social media. It will fix the problem of them being so stressed. Fix their weak minds.

[31/7/2026 5:54 pm] Adam: They will finally leave their parents hdb, get married, find job, get car and live the singaporean dream

[31/7/2026 6:04 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[31/7/2026 6:06 pm] G in reply to LCL (Danny 心):

> ‎⁨I feel that prevention is better than cure.⁩

Unless the prevention creates more problems and / or is more problematic than the problem it is trying to prevent

[31/7/2026 6:07 pm] G in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨If only we strengthen our youths mind by controlling social...

Sounds very communist

[31/7/2026 6:12 pm] G in reply to Adam:

> ‎⁨They will finally leave their parents hdb, get married,...

Actually, I think SG youth are very resilient.. but they've only been sold 1 narrative: whatever the SG dream is.. and this dream is seriously getting more and more unattainable because of the SG environment 

Many mistake this SG environment as youth not being as resilient as previous generations 

But I feel that SG youth should be more exposed to the different kinds of opportunities available to them outside of SG, and not being stifled by their immediate SG environment 

Like it or not SG environment has evolved into a condition where it's become so much more conducive and rewarding to treat SG like a stepping stone to greener pastures, than to sink deep roots in

Let SG youths explore overseas and even sink roots elsewhere where it's more conducive to sink roots in

[31/7/2026 6:46 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[31/7/2026 7:04 pm] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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