REACH 269 - NDR Rally 2021 (SK)

30 Aug 2021 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

[9:27 pm, 29/08/2021] +REACH: #ICYMI: National Day Rally 2021: Highlights from PM Lee's speech

👉🏼 NDR 2021: Olympic rower and nurse Joan Poh embodies best of being Singaporean, says PM Lee

https://str.sg/3i9J

👉🏼 National Day Rally 2021: PM Lee addresses concerns over foreigners, lower wage workers and race

https://str.sg/3i9o

👉🏼 National Day Rally 2021: Neighbours of all races are like family in Whampoa block

https://str.sg/3i94

👉🏼 National Day Rally 2021: Muslim nurses in public healthcare allowed to wear tudung from November

https://str.sg/3i9k

👉🏼 NDR 2021: New law to deal with racial offences, promote harmony through softer approach

https://str.sg/3ijt

👉🏼 NDR 2021: EP, S Pass criteria to tighten over time, foreigners must accept ethos, norms of S'pore society

https://str.sg/3ijF

👉🏼 NDR 2021: Fair employment guidelines to become law; new tribunal to deal with workplace discrimination

https://str.sg/3ij9

👉🏼 NDR 2021: MOM looking at better job protection for delivery workers

https://str.sg/3ijH

👉🏼 NDR 2021: Firms hiring foreigners to pay all locals at least $1,400; progressive wages for retail, more sectors

https://str.sg/3ijK

👉🏼 NDR 2021: S'pore to focus on new growth, no longer about 'keeping ourselves on life support', says PM Lee

https://str.sg/3ijR

👉🏼 National Day Rally 2021: All races treated equally in S'pore, with no special privileges, says PM Lee

https://str.sg/3ijL

👉🏼 NDR 2021: Malay/Muslim community has done well but concerns remain over home ownership, education

https://str.sg/3iju

[10:02 am, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

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

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The topic will be posted shortly.

Thank you

Megan 😊

[10:04 am, 30/08/2021] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

With the Covid-19 outbreak under control, it is time for Singapore to refocus on the future, said PM Lee in his National Day Rally (NDR) speech on Sunday (Aug 29). He also noted that the pandemic had sharpened fault lines in society and made some difficult issues more urgent. The bulk of his speech addressed three of them: supporting lower wage workers, addressing anxieties over foreign work pass holders, and managing race and religion. 

💬 What are your views on PM Lee's NDR speech, in particular on efforts to help lower wage workers, ensure a fair playing field at the workplace, and strengthen racial harmony? How can we play our part to build a stronger, more harmonious society, where no one is left behind? 

Below are the highlights of PM Lee’s speech:

Helping lower-wage workers

📌 Progressive Wage Model to be extended to more sectors - starting with retail

📌 Firms hiring foreigners to pay all Singapore staff at least a local qualifying salary of $1,400

📌 Higher payouts under Workfare scheme, qualifying age lowered from 35 to 30

📌 MOM to look at better job protection for delivery workers 

Ensuring fair hiring

📌 Fair employment guidelines to be legislated, new tribunal to deal with workplace discrimination based on nationality, gender, age, race, religion and disability

📌 EP, S Pass criteria to tighten ‘gradually, progressively’ over time 

Race & religion

📌 PM Lee noted that "All races are treated equally in Singapore, with no special privileges for any"; this approach to racial harmony has brought us harmony and stability

📌 But all of us should be more understanding and accommodating of the concerns and difficulties faced by ethnic minorities here, especially in the areas of renting homes and looking for jobs

📌 New Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act to encourage moderation and tolerance between different racial groups - the new law will also incorporate "softer and gentler touches" that focus on persuasion and rehabilitation to help to heal hurt and mend ties between races, rather than leaving resentment in the wake of incidents

📌 Muslim nurses in public healthcare allowed to wear tudung from November 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/national-day-rally-2021-prime-minister-lee-hsien-loongs-speech-in-full 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2021-spore-to-focus-on-new-growth-no-longer-about-keeping-ourselves-on-life 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2021-firms-hiring-foreigners-to-pay-all-local-staff-at-least-1400-per-month 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/national-day-rally-2021-mom-looking-at-job-protection-for-delivery-workers 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2021-fair-employment-guidelines-to-become-law-new-tribunal-to-deal-with 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2021-ep-s-pass-criteria-to-tighten-over-time-foreigners-must-accept-ethos 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/national-day-rally-2021-new-law-on-racial-harmony-to-encourage-moderation-send 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/national-day-rally-2021-muslim-nurses-in-public-healthcare-allowed-to-wear-tudung

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[10:13 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Morning, I appreciate esp the legislation of the Fair Employment guidelines especially in ensuring balance with the necessities of hiring foreigners and to allow companies to hire, retain and redeploy employees.

[10:23 am, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. PM Lee say with 80% vaccination, it is time to re-focus on the Economy.

2. PM Lee say government will come to you one by one until everyone is vaccinated - before the virus come to you.

These are the 2 issues particularly important to me.

[10:24 am, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Livelihood and safeguarding lives - are the 2 most important issues that we need to focus on.

[10:26 am, 30/08/2021] +Elena Woo: +1 also i think it is also time to enhance the support for pregnant mothers and parents with young children, esp if want to boost child birth rate in singapore. I still hear cases from mummies groups that when they are pregnant, they are being "forced" indirectly to resign or leave the company with the reason stating as poor performance or taking a lot of mc and leave (due to them going to gynaes etc.)

[10:27 am, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

It is as good as Mandatory Vaccination!

100% vaccination - our vaccination target.

[10:29 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: Overall the PM and team got good plans laid out in the different aspect of for and to the society

[10:29 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Yes, with the legislation there's more teeth for redress

[10:30 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: BUT It all boils down to how the department and agencies roll it out

[10:30 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: is brave for the PM to address race and religion

[10:30 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: which was rather well define

[10:31 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: in singapore we might be of different race but our race is different from our orgin roots

[10:31 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: same same but different

[10:31 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: we are all SINGAPOREANS...

[10:31 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: now that's where the FT or external migration folks have to integrate and learn our way of life

[10:33 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: all these while we have been welcoming outsiders but if outsider tries to injevt their way of lives and believes into our eco system than we will have to take a stand on things.....

[10:34 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: glad to see platform "workers"are i the lime light now

[10:34 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: all these while platform owners used the term partners

[10:35 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: for those who use their platform to earn

[10:35 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Make them have fuller part in the partnership

[10:35 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: infact the "partnership" is a one way direction where platform owners hold full control while the other end partner is actually a worker

[10:36 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: NDR speech focused on important domestic topics. Would like to see mental health being addressed, because with positive mental health society is more content and we see less racism, prejudice and other problems. Positive mental health reduces fear, insecurity and anger.

[10:36 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: so with what PM mentioned is good to strike this partnership off

[10:36 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: and make it official empolyer and empolyee if possible else is totally unfair to those on the working end

[10:37 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Good speech, well delivered. Important to keep Singapore open and welcoming, but protect the interest of citizens.

[10:37 am, 30/08/2021] +Valli: Agree

A very good speaker, Father like Son, even better , charismatic 

Admire both 

Good choice of words 

Good plans laid out for the future.

[10:38 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: We also need to turn our attention to our next PM at some point! Not good for Singapore to have uncertainty ahead.

[10:39 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: seems this yrar i see a 1% of lky in him

[10:39 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: was impress by certain part of speech for that 30secs

[10:39 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: i think is on the part of racial harmony ....

[10:39 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: I assume we sadly only have 2 years or so of our current PM?

[10:39 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: hope those not born and breed in singapore get the message

[10:40 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Some born and bred in Singapore are less patriotic than those who chose to make a life here.

[10:41 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Please don't try to create division in society.

[10:41 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: quite me if you all wan but which country in the world you can find  CHINESE TEMPLE, MOSQUE AND INDIAN TEMPLE all sitting on the same street just a few doors away from each -> THAT'S HOW STRONG OUR RACAL HARMONY IS ... it take years and generation to built this up and WE intend to keep it that way

[10:41 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Yes yes I agree.

[10:41 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Think it's a collective effort. I am thankful Singapore is home

[10:42 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Why do you say you hope others get the message? Do you feel immigration creates racial disharmony from new arrivals?

[10:42 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: is not creation division is every thing is let you then we will have division, rather is a reminder when in roman behave like the roman , keep views to minimal if unsure of

[10:42 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: Singapore is a melting pot of various cultures and we openly welcome anyone into the group

[10:43 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: frankly i dun see a problem of us not welcoming ppl

[10:43 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Everyone behaving like Romans isn't harmony.

[10:43 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Accepting not everyone is Roman and embracing other cultures is harmony.

[10:44 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: the one time when things are rocky when we see how people try to inject their culture and practise from where they are into our eco system , this was mentioned last night too not sure if it was understood

[10:44 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: I would say our culture is the most unique in the world and we can use it to our advantage.

[10:44 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Romans were not always very nice 😆

[10:44 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: it is .. the above example is a good one to show to the world

[10:44 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: However I find last nights address on covid and recovery somewhat lackluster

[10:45 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: Would like to see future leaders give a bold vision

[10:45 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: and visitors to singapore always wonder how can different religion live in peace when

[10:45 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: And map out the new path for us

[10:45 am, 30/08/2021] +Ben: There is a big economic storm ahead. A lot of unknowns.

[10:45 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: middle east is like shit

[10:45 am, 30/08/2021] +~RH: Finally,  glad to hear PM being open (finally)  abt domestic issues tt pervade our society today. 

And acknowledging how the CECA pact has gone sideways and so wrong. Hopefully, the gov wl be more careful in future when drafting their agreements W other countries and ensure tt Singaporeans' interests are protected first!

[10:46 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Think he focused on matters which are more pressing from where he is

[10:47 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: sosical matter is dun address will break the whole country and alot of the system built on

[10:47 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: I don't get ceca being sideways from the speech

[10:47 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: so i think the team was good to address this on a national level

[10:48 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: but how it roll out and gets implemented is another case

[10:48 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: thinking and doing are always different schools

[10:48 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: Perhaps but covid is pressing matters to us as well

[10:49 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Tq

[10:49 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: I for one don’t think there’s anything wrong with coperation and economic agreement

[10:50 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: It’s the respective ministries that all influx of foreigners without a good understanding on their social impact

[10:51 am, 30/08/2021] +Valli: The problems arise when the existing new residents bring in more of their own relations & friends here, and they establish their own ‘community & culture’ instead of integrating into Singapore culture.

[10:52 am, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: thus the message was put clear on national level ....

[10:53 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: i wasn't just looking for this, but a higher scope from leaders to map out a plan to navigate the future

[10:55 am, 30/08/2021] +~RH: Agree.

[10:56 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: typo: It’s the respective ministries that allow the influx of foreigners without a good understanding on their social impact

[10:56 am, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Was it due to issue of drafting?

[10:56 am, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: maybe we need more sociologists in the public sector

[10:59 am, 30/08/2021] +~RH: All aspects of an agreement need to be addressed. 

From drafting to execution. 

But the main thing is interpretation of any agreement.

Once it is misunderstood,  things can go haywire.

[0:00 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

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

Megan 😊

[0:01 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: like what else hahahaha you want us to talk about ? Maybe pull a tpic or 2 cos last nite many topics

[0:06 pm, 30/08/2021] +Caleb: I thought NDR will talked about how are we going to transit into endemic for COVID...

[0:06 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Influx of Foreigners? Not sure that's accurate. I read that the numbers dropped. Foreigners only come if they are contributing to the economy right? Or is it just lower wages? Or is it to do jobs Singaporeans don't want?

[0:08 pm, 30/08/2021] +Caleb: Or is Gov willing to spend alot on sending ppl to hotel for QO due to close contact.

[0:08 pm, 30/08/2021] +Alvin Lim: Obviously you haven’t been on the ground in different sectors

[0:09 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ben: Yes, although just bringing in Friends isn't possible is it? Only parents and children. Not much of a community!

[0:36 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: one ting we have to know govt give one inch , the public dun ask for a yard

[0:36 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: there is no such thing as keep giving always

[0:36 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: expect to give back also

[0:37 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ah Heng: last nite during the rally can see on social media certain groups are already asking for the impossible

[0:53 pm, 30/08/2021] +~RH: Tt topic has alredi bn covered many times over by the CoVid Joint Committee. 

PM just re affirms wat they say/do.

Dun wanna take up all our public time to talk abt it some more. 😉

[0:54 pm, 30/08/2021] +~RH: Good to focus to domestic issues that is on everyone else's mind. 

Ther r other things just as important. 😉

[0:54 pm, 30/08/2021] +~RH: ** focus on

[0:55 pm, 30/08/2021] +~RH: This is an ongoing thing. 

Wat do u think can be done abt it?

[0:56 pm, 30/08/2021] +Timothy Low: I wonder if government agency can be more proactive in dealing with such unfair HR hiring practices, rather than being reactive (ie after receiving a complain)

[0:57 pm, 30/08/2021] +Jack: 👍

[1:14 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/just-show-nric-to-redeem-singaporediscovers-vouchers-at-34-ccs-and-rcs

Just show NRIC to redeem SingapoRediscovers Vouchers at 34 CCs and RCs

[1:15 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Easy way to redeem the Singapore rediscovery vouchers.

Can help to revive the tourism industry.

[1:25 pm, 30/08/2021] +Poh S. Lim: The PM and his team had prepared us a few months back, for a post-Covid-19, endemic transitions and been open about it. 

Even as we do this transition, we need to be mindful of those industries hardest hit by all the different restrictions, such as travel, hospitality, F&B, entertainment, and retail. 

Many of these industries had already been undergoing transformations such as digital and business models, but these industries still are about connections and people movements. 

I hope the government continues to provide wide support across these industries which are human resource intensive as it provides employment for a large segment of the population.

[1:25 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Muslim community applauds news to allow nurses to wear tudung, some seek more clarity

SINGAPORE - Muslim nurses, community organisations and political leaders have applauded the move to allow nurses here to wear tudungs with their uniforms from November, with many highlighting how it reflects cross-cultural understanding.

More: https://str.sg/3iFv

[2:04 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ben: There are many positive reasons women choose to wear the tudung, and this is good they will not be prevented. Equally I hope that women who prefer nt to wear it will now be pressured into doing so by over bearing husbands. The history of the tudung is to deter sexual interest from men, so inevitable some husbands may think a woman not wearing it, is somehow inviting said attention. Part of improving the nation's mental health will help to reassure insecure men, and submissive women that they can make choices in their lives for themselves and not just to satisfy others.

[2:17 pm, 30/08/2021] +jimmy chew: I feel sad that they allow. This may add undue pressure on those who don't believe in wearing but live good lives to be persuaded to wear them. Not sure about the hygiene. Emphasis on religion is to live the life in behaviour and not wear outer garment to show one is religious

[2:18 pm, 30/08/2021] +jimmy chew: Same applies to any following. You may wear white or blue or yellow but if you don't care for others it tells glaringly 🤣

[2:20 pm, 30/08/2021] +jimmy chew: Haha like some bank officers dress so well but are con men 🤣🤣🤣

[2:21 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Guess they will define where can where bah…

Example Operating theatre shouldn’t be able to wear it

[2:24 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Based on medical is it requirement

[3:48 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

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

Megan 😊

[4:16 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Cabbies, private-hire drivers allowed to continue delivering food, groceries till next September

Taxi and private-hire car drivers will be able to continue delivering food and groceries until September 2022, in an extension of a trial that began in March last year.

More https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/cabbies-private-hire-drivers-allowed-to-continue-delivering-food-groceries-till

[4:18 pm, 30/08/2021] +Peter T Ng: Really pleased to hear

[4:19 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: It affects the food only delivery drivers 😅

[4:28 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: So much for follow Israel 🤷🏻‍♂️

[4:32 pm, 30/08/2021] +Dan: I hope more can be done for our hawkers. This is our pride and I rem the well wishes pouring in when they were added to the list of UNESCO cultural heritage. Yet, during the pandemic, we hear more hawkers throwing in the towel. If its our heritage, shouldn't we try to preserve it?

[4:33 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/24/why-is-covid-surging-in-highly-vaccinated-israel-and-what-can-australia-learn-from-it

[4:36 pm, 30/08/2021] +Thomas: Should take a look at the death rate. It tells a story .

[4:38 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: There are lots of people not doing well, not just hawkers. 

Those that can afford eat by ordering, those couldn’t afford eat less 😅

Hawker has to constantly changing there is really not a choice. If the business no longer profitable, we keep for sentimental? 

Don’t expect the government to do anything if we don’t even support them ourselves.  

Providing Low rent is one of the ways, other than that, what we can do is to support local business by going to buy from them. hawker close sometimes also due to old age, no one want to take over.

[4:51 pm, 30/08/2021] +Dan: No batt, so not arguing. I rest my case

[5:18 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. For hawker, f&b, retail, hospitality, travel and tour spots to be vibrant - there must be foreign tourists.

Pre-pandemic, millions of tourists throng the city - and increase consumer consumption.

Without million of tourists spending, hawker, f&b, retail, transport etc won't do well.

Hence to open up to tourists, the last 20%, 1,170,000 million people must be vaccinated.

Else we could see a spike of hospitalisation cases.

[5:18 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Pay hike in the works for almost all lower-wage workers in S'pore in next few years

SINGAPORE - Within the next two years, almost all local workers will make at least $1,400, and others holding traditionally low-paying jobs as drivers and administrative assistants will get even more, as the Government redoubles its effort to speed up wage growth for the lowest earners.

More: https://str.sg/3itb

[5:20 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

To summarize, how far we can open our economy - depends on how fast we can cover and vaccinate our remaining population.

As lives and livelihood are tie together.

[5:29 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Foreign tourism contribute billions of dollars to our economy.

So without foreign tourism, how to expect local business to survive not to talk about thriving?

That's why the urgency to vaccinate the rest of the population is vital - if we want to reboot our economy quickly.

Those people who procastinate, anti-vaxx, human rights - are strangling the local economy - as our progress in reopening the economy is highly contingent on vaccinating the whole population.

[5:44 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Min wage without saying is min wage 🤣🤣

This is minimum wage with a SG twist

[5:44 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: Can't hide what was expected even with played words

[5:45 pm, 30/08/2021] +Ken Loh: Min wage that only applies to local. 

So technically not min wage

[5:46 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: Again, a play on expression

[5:53 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

For the last 2 years, all high value MICE events, exhibition, seminar etc are visibly absent that can bring us top tourism dollars.

If we vaccinate 100% of our population, we can easily jumpstart such MICE events for vaccinated overseas travellers - that bring us top tourism dollars.

[5:53 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: Yes

[5:57 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Then business can easily pay our low wage workers such as cleaners, security guards,  cab drivers, receptionists pwm wages of $1,400.

Else the business have no one to charge bit charge higher prices to local residents - without making our pie bigger from overseas travellers spending.

[5:58 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: How long will it take for the remainder 20% to be fully vaccinated!?

[6:02 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 🤷

[6:02 pm, 30/08/2021] +Caleb: The 20% includes 11 years old and below...

[6:03 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: Percentage has to be broken down to get a clear picture

[6:05 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/delta-killed-herd-immunity-dream-094232999.html                                                   This article say 100% vaccination among the population is required as R0 > 10 for Delta variants.

[6:07 pm, 30/08/2021] +Caleb: Yesterday's press release

[6:08 pm, 30/08/2021] +Caleb: So about 11% above 12 years old have not yet vax.

[6:08 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Singapore offers voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations to non-resident foreign sea crew

Non-resident foreign sea crew in Singapore will now be offered COVID-19 vaccinations, Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat announced on Monday (Aug 30).

They will be eligible if they are working in Singapore for a prolonged period, are engaged in the supply of essential goods, or are involved in ferrying passengers.

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-vaccination-foreign-sea-crew-pfizer-moderna-mpa-edb-sfa-stb-2144896

[6:08 pm, 30/08/2021] +Caleb: Let's see with SINOPHARM starts today. If the nos will go higher

[6:08 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: Great

[6:12 pm, 30/08/2021] +Dan: HP charged, so to answer your question. 

1) With regards to "there are lots of people not doing well, not just hawkers" what are you doing in Reach if you adopt this mentality of "many people are suffering, let them suffer" 

2) I don't understand what u mean by those that can afford eat by ordering, those couldn't afford eat less. Hawkers are their means of survival. Their skills allow them to make a decent living. 

3) Hawkers are adapting. Many adopted cashless payment, venture with food deliveries, and find it difficult to survive because of restrictions. Its not sentimental, UNESCO recognise hawker food is our identity, our culture. They are also evidence that Singapore still have cheap food available for commoners. 

Save them.

[6:15 pm, 30/08/2021] +~RH: Sounds like a dbl-edged sword. 

On the one hand, hawkers r affected by many factors  ...

1. Rent

2. Incidental costs like paying for cleaning services 

3. Cost of ingredients ... Prices now gg up due to limited supply. Yet they cannot raise the price of their dishes too much or risk losing their customers. 

4. Stamina to last longer than normal office hours over a hot stove

5. Manpower - hiring of workers / helpers

6. Lack of succession

7. And now,  slow down in demand due to CoVid. 

On the other hand, 

1. As u pointed out, ppl who r also suffering (like lost their jobs),  wud now prefer the cheaper alternative  - cook at hm. 

2. Hawker work is no glam job. Finding successors is not easy. 

3. Our education system is not geared towards hankering. 

4. Parents' attitudes & their aspirations for their children are also not in hawkering. 

Altho the gov has started a scheme to encourage young ppl to take up hawkering,  how much of tt scheme has bn effective? 

They need to do more if they dun wan our hats earned UNESCO heritage to go to waste.

[6:26 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: 147 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Singapore, 52 unlinked

Singapore reported 147 new locally transmitted COVID-19 infections as of noon on Monday (Aug 30), including 52 unlinked cases.

Fifty-three infections were linked to previous cases and had been placed in quarantine, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its preliminary daily update.

More https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-cases-locally-transmitted-unlinked-bugis-junction-aug-30-moh-2144001

[6:45 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan

[6:48 pm, 30/08/2021] +Kevin: Good night Megan

[6:49 pm, 30/08/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

With high infection number going up everyday.

Imperative to hasten the vaccination for rest of the adults, as the impact of endemic is being felt now.

[6:50 pm, 30/08/2021] +Dan: As for the issue of 18k+ Malays living in rental homes as compared to 9k in 2010, there has to be a door-to-door visit to these households to find the root problem. We can speculate, but a proper check will be better to stem out any racial insinuation for this group of people. It may not be race. It could be rise in  poverty.

[6:54 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: I believe government knows why a particular race seems to buck the trend.

[6:55 pm, 30/08/2021] +Rama: Worry that Malays living in rental homes will become entrenched, lead to falling home ownership aspirations: Masagos https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/worry-malays-living-rental-houses-will-become-entrenched-lead-falling-home-ownership#.YSy5KwP2tFs.whatsapp

[6:59 pm, 30/08/2021] +Smiley face: 30 August,  2021

To: Distinguish Ministers, All Honorable Members 

The Future of Races and Equalities - A Fine Line of Privileges, Entitlements And Rights

From stone age, imperialism, colonialism to globalisation. Today, the world at large see each other differently in terms of lesser or greater against one another! Inequalities exist, that's a fact! 

The covid pandemic has shown the world that not only economics of all sorts are derailed, societies are feeling the pressure of rising unemployment, deepening inequalities and the on going geopolitics turmoil all accessable via social media platforms. 

Main:

Singapore, a young nation compare to many larger nations with longer history, a history of colonialism to the last 56 years of socioeconomics success attributed to many prominent Chinese leaders and other compliment leaders from other Asian races that contributed to today's first world Singapore. 

Our strength is a small finite 3.5 million citizens and growing, we can ADAPT to the ever evolving human immigrants into our land, this case is necessary to stay relevant and continue to be a vibrant city state. Perhaps, history has shown us that a UNIFIED nation will progress further, stronger and sustainable against all disruptions natural or unnatural!

Afterwords:

How to re-emerge a stronger SINGAPORE & SINGAPOREANS identity?

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do" 

Fact, the world see Singapore as a role model to learn from our social infrastructures and integration, our decades of economics successes and a stable politics that began with a vision in 1965 and evolves into a metropolis. 

We, Singaporeans, are hard working, law abiding, well behave, forgiving, compassionate and disciplined people. We have a common understanding the importance of social harmony, race equality and religious beliefs and practices. Whenever and where we travel to, we are mindfull and respectful of other countries rules, multi-cultures and norms. Likewise we expect our visitors, foreign talents and new immigrants to adjust, to accept and adapt to our standards and local norms too. 

Educate our new arrivals the importance of TOLERANCE, INCLUSIVENESS and UNITY for the betterment of our country.

The need to RELOOK and REFRESH the approach in educating our youth and younger citizens. The millenials perceive differently from our generations. 

On communities and socials leadership, perhaps, the main FOUR races communities leaders should immerse through "sitting" on board each other associations and clubs. A good start is CDAC, MUIS, SINDA Eurasian Club and Sikh club, up to 10% of committee members to co-opt the 3 other races and key religious leaders into each organisation.

Public Housing allocation based on races, perhaps, it should be RECALIBRATED, religion based allocation.

Into the future, our NRIC and PASSPORT should eliminate RACE as one attribute. The essential information is Nationality, this case Singaporean & RELIGION for the two legal documentations. One exception is BIRTH CERTIFICATE, race of new born will remain unchange.

Quotation:

"Respect yourself and others will respect you. 

--- Confucius

"... we need reasonable employment conditions across the class spectrum and social policies that are not class-biased but genuinely supportive of all families. No one should have to be super in order to be human."

-- Teo You Yenn

"Privileges, Entitlements, and Rights, each is mutually exclusive and a fine line in between..." 

-- Ian T 

https://youtu.be/7peZE2vnHgo        

             - - END - -

[7:00 pm, 30/08/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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