Taking stock - our successful Contributions in REACH to tackle covid-19 virus pandemic 

(SK)

18 Apr 2020

In total, taking stock, our successful recommendations:-

1. Non-alcohol sanitizer. (Alcohol will cause skin irritation and peel off. Also will cause alcohol poisioning if children accidentally put in the mouth. Alcohol based sanitizer may also be inflammable.)

2. Reusable washable face masks. (The most significant contribution that not only save many lives in Singapore, but also trigger Japan PM Abe from wearing it and the whole world subsequently adopt this as the most effective way to slow and curb covid infection).

3. Crowd mapping using mobile signal data and satellite GPS - spaceout and npark.

4. DSTA develop network analysis tool for contact tracing (location-based tracking).

5. PM call for circuit breaker measures - based on our highlight of increasing unlink cases.

6. Aggressive testing in dorms to weed out all infected cases (2,900 tests per day)

---

Later we are going to bring up measures to tackle unlink cases in the community.

7. Propose extend circuit breaker to another 2 weeks if the infection number in community is not zero - few days before 4 May 2020.

(After note :- PM Lee announce on 21 Apr 2020 to extend circuit breaker to another 4 weeks from 4 May 2020 to 1 Jun 2020.)

8. Aggressive testing to ramp up to include essential service workers (ramp up from 3,000 to 8,000 tests per day) - announced by Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister Lawrence Wong on 27 Apr 2020.

9. Propose step-by-step opening up of Economic inititatives after Circuit Breaker ends echo by PM Lee, Minister Iswaran, Minister Chan Chun Sing (30 Apr 2020 - 1 May 2020)

10. Raise concern on Bluetooth Security in Tracetogether mobile apps - and Government will not make it compulsory but working with Google and Apple - to tighten Android and iOS. (2 May 2020)

11. Government adopted SafeEntry scan QR code by 12 May 2020 compulsory for people entering any malls or establishment to trace people entry. (2 May 2020)

12. Commented that Youth is wasted on the young. Now graduating cohort can start going to school 😊 (12 May 2020) (SK)

13. Propose organise testing priorities into Batches. Nursing homes testing fall into Batch 3b (25 Apr 2020) - Government announce it will test nursing homes as one of the priority batch on 2 May 2020.

(CNA

02 May 2020 09:25PM

(Updated: 02 May 2020 09:30PM)

Authorities prioritising COVID-19 testing at nursing homes, employees to be housed on-site or at hotels)

14.  Propose batch testing of workers when circuit breaker ease (25 Apr 2020) - Government announce priority testing for customer-facing staff (3 May 2020).

15. Propose virtual conferencing to negotiate RCEP and target for signing on end 2020 (30 Apr 2020) - Minister Chan Chun Sing announced in 3 May 2020) - that RCEP intense virtual meeting ongoing and likely to sign by end 2020.

16. Propose Order online and pick up later at retail - retail Giant implement (SK)

17. Proposed Psychological resiliency (Zen) to unite Singaporeans and residents (5 Feb 2020) - PM Lee speech say psychological and social resiliency is important in this fight against virus pandemic (13 Mar 2020).

18. Proposed Community spreading fall to zero or single digit before opening (25 Apr 2020) - echo by Minister Gan Kim Yong (4 May 2020)

19. Proposed to allow foreign workers to have space to walk in the sun and not confine to indoor small space (28 Apr 2020) - Colonel Chua managing isolation camps allow foreign workers to walk in the sun (6 May 2020) (SK)

20. Proposed risk based approach to tackle virus pandemic and not evidence-based approach which is reactive (10 Apr 2020). Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) - “After pre-school services fully resume, we will consider a *risk-based* testing system to protect children and staff,” an ECDA spokesperson told CNA. (14 May 2020) (SK)

21. Raise concern on skin irritation and breathe in toxin disinfectant fumes when using disinfectant chambers. WHO confirm similar concern. Temasek Foundation decide to do a trial on such concern in deployment. (SK)

22. Suggest it is the onus of business to present Government with detail plan on what safety safeguard to be put in place by each industries and each buinsess before allowing opening up in Phase 1, 2 and 3 (22 May 2020).

Minister Lawrence Wong say the same thing on 28 May 2020.

23. Post cardboard beds for easy and assemble for sick patients. Use by Government to house foreign workers doing essential services (30 May 2020). (SK)

24. I raise the issue of Bluetooth security used by Tracetogether apps. Tracetogether apps not make compulsory, wearable bluetooth dongle will be distributed to everyone. (5 Jun 2020).

25. Contribute the link on "Singapore rank 4th highest in safety risk against virus conducted by independant international study for foriegn investors" (8 Jun 2020). Report in Straits Times (10 Jun 2020) (SK)

26. Contribute pictures on the various plastic shield to protect diners in restaurant, food centres. Comfort Delgro subsidiary roll out plastic shield in Ko Fu food court to trial and will roll out to more food court if successful (10 Jun 2020) (SK)

27.  I commented that IT security must be the core of any National IT system roll out to the public. I am refering to the Tracetogether mobile apps bluetooth security vulenrability (4 May 2020). DPM Heng Swee Keat sees what I see - that cybersecurity must be the core of any IT design that roll out to the public. 'Digital virus' might be bigger threat than Covid-19: Heng Swee Keat (13 Jun 2020).

Minister Vivian also say that Tracetogether token should be open up in code, design - for public feedback and can be improved upon. (13 Jun 2020).

28. Comment in REACH on PSP 6 members campaigning violate 5 people in a group under MOH safety guideline and ELD campaigning guideline (19 Jun 2020). REACH Administrator say they will feedback to relevant Authorities. Safe Distancing Ambassador take down the particulars of all PSP members for flouting the law. (22 Jun 2020 CNA).

29. Comment in REACH on Holland Village - British Indian Curry restaurant big crowd without mask and breach safe distancing (20 Jun 2020). URA close the shop and the sidewalk for breaching safe distancing (21 - 22 Jun 2020 CNA)

30. Propose digitalisation through eCommerce for SMEs and big Enterpises to tap not only local market but also overseas market align with ITM. (28 Apr 2020) (27 May 2020). 500 SMEs digitalise through eCommerce platform to access overseas market (ST 22 Jun 2020)

31. Projection through math calculation dorm testing will complete by end July or Aug 2020. (SK). CNA 25 Jun 2020  report that 70% to 80% of migrant workers in dormitories expected to be COVID-19 free by end-July 2020: Lawrence Wong.

32. Suggest RFID to track quarantine travellers to stay at quarantine home. (24 Mar 2020). Govt use GPS, bluetooth etc to track quarantine travellers to stay at quarantine home. (4 Aug 2020 Straits Times) (SK)

33. Write in REACH that 2020 General Election mood turn sour because many mid-career PMETs got retrench and cannot find jobs - not only young voters swing the votes. Also many business run into difficulties because of the covid lockdown. These assessment is contrary to most independent analysts of post GE outcome. (11 July 2020). Minister Lawrence Wong confirm my assessment is correct - not only young voters that swing the votes. (18 July 2020 Straits Times).

34. Propose vegetarian foods, vegan based meat, 3D printed vegan base meat, cell-culture, tissue re-engineering meat, beyond meat to replace slaughtering of animal meat and prevent virus pandemic. (2 Aug 2020). Government plan food security R&D to achieve the proposed contribution.

(Straits Times 13 Aug 2020

Strengthening food security with R&D

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/strengthening-food-security-with-rd?cx_testId=20&cx_testVariant=cx_2&cx_artPos=3#cxrecs_s)

35.(a) Proposed to re-boot our air hub organised "ring-fence" business travellers, tour group and MICE (17-18 Aug 2020). Minister of Transport Ong Ye Kung Channel 8 - 7pm interview - Minister Ong YK - say 3 prong approach to re-boot our air hub. (For Countries with good control infection)  1. Business traveller Reciprocal Green Lane 2. Open up for foreign tourists to come in 3. talk too fast - cannot catch...... the 3rd approach ----- but in a safe manner. (18 Aug 2020, 7pm)

35.(b) Proposed reboot our air hub through organised "ring-fence" tours, green lane for business travellers and MICE. (18 Aug 2020). MOT Ong Yee Kung annouce "air-bubbles" tours with test to replace Stay-Home-Notice for New Zealand, Brunei; and 7 days SHN to replace 14 days SHN for some Asia Pacific Countries with low infection rate. (21 Aug 2020).

36. PIE Jalan Anak Bukit highway car skid - suggest anti-skid highway (23 Aug 2020). Straits Time LTA report it will install anti-skid measures on the highway (23 Aug 2020). (Poh)

37. Analysis in REACH that 12 China national to Tianjin fly in Scoot tested positive - are time-based discharge which are no longer infectious. (24 Aug 2020). CNA report the 12 China national infected are due to time-based discharge and no longer infectious. (25 Aug 2020). (with SK)

38. Post Government should take into account the impact of "Geopolitical tension" on Singapore in addition to impact cause by virus pandemic that are not articulate in President Budget 2020 Parliament speech. (25 Aug 2020). SM Teo Chee Hean announce a whole of government and civil service approach to tackle the impact on our economic resources due to "Geopolitical tension". (CNA 27 Aug 2020).

39. Write in REACH to use hard ratio for foreign workers 30%, local 70% (currently no quota for work pass holders) - to test the veracity of using hard ratio - that produce immediate outcome of employing local workforce (but a trade-off that will drive away investors). (1 Sep 2020, noon 2pm). MOM Minister Josephine Teo say "Employment Pass quota not unthinkable, but probably unwise as it drive away investors". (1 Sep 2020, 5pm, Straits Times).

40. Case A to H - REACH contribution in view on foreign workers,  Unfair treatment of Singaporeans workers, Global investors want to setup Global or Regional HQ to Singapore,  needs for Global Talents, fiscal prudence and protect our reserve, Targeted help for vulnerable, Retraining and upskilling mature displaced workers, Wear reusable cloth face masks. (cover by CNA PM Lee Parliamentary speech 2 Sep 2020 )

41. Observations on unfair treatment of local workers versus foreigners. (31 Aug 2020). CNA PM Lee Parliamentary speech 2 Sep 2020 (quote similar example). (SK)

42. Post in REACH that foreign hiring managers if foreigners will look for its own kind in hiring. (31 Aug 2020). MP Patrick Tay in Parliamentary speech Sep 2020 (say hiring managers must change mindsets on local workers). (SK)

43. Propose ITM (and PWM) in 1 May 2012. ITM implemented in Budget 2016. PWM implemented in 21 Jun 2012.

44. Recommend "ring-fence" air bubbles, "safe tunneling" air corridors for MICE (17 Aug 2020). Government open MICE up to 250 attendees in 7 Sep 2020.

45. Say that Singapore must continue to maintain our status as Air hub, Port hub, Data hub, Finance hub, Manufacturing hub, Medical hub, Food hub, Water hub, Energy hub etc. (31 Aug 2020). Minister of Trade Chan Chun Sing say Singapore must still be the global hub and gateway to ASEAN, as well as "critical nodes" for businesses as Singapore adds value to their supply chain. CNA (8 Sep 2020)

46. Propose - Bring in only foreigners that can contribute millions or billions of investment into Singapore, or bring in ideas, r&d and skillsets that Singaporean do not have - but as a result create many new  and good quality jobs for Singaporeans. (31 Aug 2020). CNA (8 Sep 2020) Minister of Trade Chan Chun Sing say Singapore want the world’s best and brightest to be with Team Singapore. Singapore’s foreign worker policies are shifting towards “quality" rather than quantity.

47. Advocate TraceTogether token over TraceTogether mobile apps as mobile apps handphone can be hacked for financial gain as oppose to token that have no incenttive to hack as there are no financial data. (14 Jun 2020). CNA Government distribute TraceTogether token for free to Singapore residents. (9 Sep 2020).

48. Say that providing Government grant to SMEs is only temporary and not sustainable. Government should help to provide access to market local and overseas, buy their products or tie the start up to big enterprise to help them market their products to big overseas markets. (21 Aug 2020). Straits Times (9 Sep 2020) - 2nd Minister of Trade Tan See Leng say no amount of short-term relief is enough if there are no new businesses and revenue streams coming in and this is why the Government is exploring ways to open up the country for trade. 

49. Say that gov should help to provide access to market local and overseas, buy their products or tie the start up to big enterprise to help them market their products to big overseas markets. GLCs can identify promising startups to partner them and market their products in solutioning as well as provide resources to them. (21 Aug 2020). Straits Times (9 Sep 2020) - 2nd Minister of Trade Tan See Leng say Government policies can be better adapted to help start-ups and SMEs scale up so that they can compete internationally - having been certified and validated by the big government-linked companies here in Singapore.

50. Propose SMS alerts will be sent to those who were at locations with higher transmission risk. REACH message will be implemented in 10 Sep 2020. (SK)

51. Propose face mask with sensors that can detect covid-19. (14 May 2020). Straits Times 10 Sep 2020 Local researchers invented a face mask with sensors to detect covid-19 virus.

52. Propose SIA flights to nowhere and staycations or static airplanes meal. (21 Aug 2020). Straits Times SIA looks to launch 'flights to nowhere' by end-October to mitigate Covid-19 fallout (11 Sep 2020)

53. Suggest using mobile data and GPS to track (quarantine people or infected person). 非常时期，需要非常手段. (31 Mar 2020). CNA 12 Sep 2020 - More than 3,500 electronic wristband devices issued to travellers serving stay-home notices: ICA using user handphone and GPS data if user leave home.

54. Suggest aggressive testing - that will discover infection, early treatment, early quarantine, and greatly reduced mortality. 25 Apr 2020 (SK). Yahoo 17 Sep 2020 WHO praise Singapore low mortality rate and one of the reason is due to aggressive testing.

55. Gender equality - mention women in Singapore is not deliberately indiscriminate against. And a hard ratio in women representation in important position is based on merit and the right fit. (21 Sep 2020). Minister Shanmugam say the same. CNA (24 Sep 2020).

56. Propose SIA conduct inflight meal and entertainment on stationary plane. (SK) (21/08/2020)  Today report (29 Sep 2020) - SIA use A380 provide inflight meal, entertainment on stationary plane. 

57. Propose "ring fence" air bubbles and "safe tunneling" air corridor for overseas travellers. (14 Aug 2020). MOT Ong Ye Kung announce safe air bubbles for overseas travellers. (6 Oct 2020) CNA.

58. Propose digitalise shipping port management system through virtual to physical port connectivity. (07 Jul 2019). Straits Times Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat announce Digitalising the shipping industry can enhance global trade. (8 Oct 2020)

59. Propose Singapore should seize the opportunity to insert ourselves into China +1 supply chain strategy that make ASEAN the heart of China strategy. (31Aug2020). CNA (12Oct2020) report China +1 strategy of redirecting investment into ASEAN and China big tech companies like Alibaba, Tencent, Bydance/Tik Tok has heavy investment in Singapore as a result of US trade war.

60. Propose virtual browser with container to allow access to Internet via thin client - to prevent internet hackers from hacking into Government Intranet - arising from Singhealth APT attack). (12Nov2018, 20Jul2018). Straits Times (15Oct2020) Singapore civil serviice have secure internet access via remote browsing technology.

61. Argue on PWM is better than universal minimum wages and propose to put this as a topic for debate. (I and SK) (07Sep2020). REACH extend time in REACH whatsapp (15Oct2020) to discuss this topic PWM (propose by PAP) versus Universal Minimum Wages (propose by WP).

62. Propose incentives for epayment to be successful. (09Sep2020). I also alert about the impact of China digital yuan on Singapore yuan currency exchange (19Sep2020, 12.21pm). CNA report that China digital yuan epayment is successful only if incentive is given. It also concur with my analysis of the impact of China new digital yuan (19Sep2020, 5.25pm). 

63. Raise the threat due to US-China tension and bifurcation to our supply chain - how to transform the threat into opportunities (25Aug, 28Aug, 15Oct2020). Straits Times MTI Chan Chun Sing say Singapore can serve various different markets if we play our cards right even in a fragmenting and bifurcation world. (19Oct2020)

64. Propose vegan based meat to replace animal meat to stop slaughtering animals and curb pandemic and epidemic. (2Aug2020). Straits Times 20Oct2020 Impossible plant-based meat goes on sale in 79 FairPrice supermarkets and RedMart.

65. Propose CSA must review any National IT desgin before pushing out. Else without regard to building in IT security ---- then the person is building a dangerous platform that will cause tremendous economic, social and even physical damages to the Nation.(4 May 2020). Straits Times (10 Nov 2020) Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore has warned the public about the perils associated with scanning QR codes with phishing codes.

66. Biden elected President 2020 - Posting in REACH on Insights on World Peace and World Prosperity through Global Cooperation and Collaboration (9 Nov 2020). Straits Times 17 Nov 2020 - PM Lee hopes US President-elect Biden will come up with framework for 'constructive' US-China ties.

67. Biden elected President 2020 - Posting in REACH on Insights on World Peace and World Prosperity through Global Cooperation and Collaboration (9 Nov 2020). Straits Times 17 Nov 2020 - Washington, Beijing must find areas of cooperation or risk sliding into conflict: Henry Kissinger.

68. Raise question whether our Civil Service standard have dropped? And need to raise this to the attention to COPS and Ministers. (25Nov2020). Head Civil Service Leo Yip and MOF publish 2 Public Sector reports that show Public Service standard is very high as compared to the World in CNA news. (26Nov 2020).

69. Suggest that oveseas travel may need vaccination if Countries start dictating it. (SK) (2Dec2020). WHO looks at possible 'e-vaccination certificates' for travel. (Reuters)(DECEMBER 3, 2020 7:39 PM)

70. Suggest vegan meat, cell-culture tisue re-engineering meat to be priced to appeal to mass market. Now the price too high. (11Nov2020). CNA 02 Dec 2020 San Francisco-based Eat Just, cell culture chicken meat intend to price their cell culture meat to appeal to mass market.

71. Mention China "dual circulation" strategy will affect Singapore. Singapore can work with China in both "internal and external circulation" and yuan currency exchange. (2Nov2020). Straits Times (7Dec2020) DPM Heng Swee Keat enquire and will like to work with China Vice-Premier Han Zheng to offer Singapore cooperation with China on external circulation and yuan currency exchange.

72. To see all financial instrument in "One View" under Singapore Data Exchange, I suggest in REACH to use multiple FA (as 2FA with user id, password and SMS OTP - is not sufficient if land in same handphone - as malware with keylogger can steal it) (7Dec2020). CNA (16 Dec 2020) - Multiple FA provided by GovTech - other than SMS OTP, biometrics like facial recognition is provide for SingPass login.

73. 02Dec2020 propose "Securing vaccines may become a necessary part of borders reopening criteria. If countries decide that it will only open up to persons who are vaccinated then we have no choice but to secure and make available the vaccines for persons who need to travel." in REACH. Straits Times 2Jan2021 Hong Kong in talks to use coronavirus vaccine records for travel. SCMP 2Jan2021  Vaccine passports, domestic tourism, pricey flights – is this the future of travel in a post-pandemic Asia. (SK)

74. Suggest that single-used plastic bags are required to bag home liquid and solid waste and protect low-income earners having to pay for plastic bag to bag home waste. (01Oct2018). Straits Times (16Jan2021) Senior MOS Amy Khor echo the same view. However she is willing to explore charge plastic bags who take 3 or more. (I support such move - to reduce plastic bags but yet can be used to bag home waste).

75. Question why the elderly with sickness are vaccinated first as it pose safety risk - as they are frail. The Time of India (16Jan2021) reported that 23 elderly with chronic patients die after Pfizer vaccination in Norway. Write to REACH to request for temporary halt for this age and health group while requesting Government Authority to seek clarification with Pfizer on the safety for this age and health group.(SK)

76. Suggest in REACH that Israel could be a good vaccination model for the World to follow - as its early data indicate the vaccine is proving effective in stopping the covid-19 pandemic. (1:24 pm, 20/01/2021 Israel lead the world in vaccination - using predominantly Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.Israel project it will be the first country in the world to get back to normal lives.) CNA news on 22/1/2021 5pm and 23/1/2021 12pm - broadcast a segment on Israel vaccination drive - and Israel Health Authority project that the pandemic in Israel will end when the vaccination is completed in end Mar 2021.

77. Suggest in REACH to articipate and seamlessly integrate with China DCEP digital yuan and continue to strengthen Singapore as yuan currency exchange through offshore yuan trading hub as well as operating as gateway between China financial system as well as the World financial system through SWIFT. (02 Nov 2021)

Ledger Insights (29 Jan 2021) "WEF: China says digital yuan doesn’t aim to challenge dollar - “*Is Singapore willing to have the Chinese digital currency move into Singapore*? *And China willing to accept the Singapore digital currency*? *Maybe the two countries can sign a deal*?” asked Zhu Min jocularly. Zhu Min is Chairman of China’s National Institute of Financial Research at Tsinghua University and a former Deputy Managing Director at the IMF and former Deputy Governor at the People’s Bank of China.

78. Suggest in REACH that disinformation about the vaccines that cause safety issues from fake news websites are created by conspiracy groups to sabotage the vaccination efforts. (1 Feb 2021). CNA (2 Feb 2021) Minister Iswaran - Govt 'will not hesitate to use the full force of the law' on vaccine-related misinformation: Iswaran

79. Commented in REACH that the Singapore Rediscover tourism voucher is too difficult and onerous to redeem online. Will end up not many people using it. Suggest using hardcopy vouchers will have a better outcome of achieving the Tourism objective of rebooting our Tourism Sector. (25/11/2020).    The Online Citizen (17/3/2021) report that only $53 million of the vouchers have been used up out of $320 million in Mar 2021. The voucher will expire in end Jun 2021. Social media netizens feedback that the redemption process online is too onerous to use and thus rather not used it.

80. Share in REACH and SCMP how US democratic system can patch its inadequacies eg. long term strategic planning to anchor strategic industries, plan infrastructure upgrade and ensure continuous talent supply (22Mar2021). CNA news (26Mar2021) Biden unveil trillion dollars plan to invest in new technologies areas that will make it competitive as well as plan infrastructure upgrade.

81. Share in REACH and SCMP Mr LKY say, we can punch above our weight - not because we are big, not because we are rich, not because we are powerful. It is because of our soft power, our ability to emphatise, our ability to work with anyone and our ability to work out mutual benefits with everyone.(25Mar2021). CNA news (26Mar2021)  "China has an overall goal ... to become the leading country in the world, the wealthiest country in the world and the most powerful country in the world," Biden told reporters at the White House. 

82. Post in REACH and SCMP - China Leaders are very smart people, they will determine whether my postings are useful to help them resolve the China-US geopolitical tension and use it (22Mar2021). CNA news (26Mar2021)  Biden told reporters at the White House, "Xi is a smart, smart guy".

83. Post in REACH and SCMP - Dividing the World into 2 Blocs will trigger World War 3 - because the 2 Blocs are not trading resources but instead snatch resources for their Blocs at the expenses of the other Bloc. This is what happen in World War 1 and 2 (22Mar2021). CNA news (26Mar2021)  China ambassador in US Cui TianKai say "Divide the world into 2 different camps or even build confrontational military blocs - is not the solution".

84. Post in REACH and SCMP - Correcting both system of governance and moving them into the middle ground is the key to resolve the seemingly unsolvable deadlock. Suggest democratic process can take place in Communism and evolve into a Hybrid Universal Suffrage / Communism 这是共产主义中的民主进程。 (22Mar2021). CNA news (26Mar2021 Biden say "Xi don't have a democratic - with a smal "d" bone in his body".

85. Post in REACH 25/05/2020, 29/03/2021  If all work at home, that means boss can engage and outsource to foreign workers who demand much lesser salary who are working overseas at home to do Singaporean work.            CNA (4Apr2021) 4 in 10 jobs can be done remotely at home :- MOM report.  Minister Josephine Teo to track such trend and to respone to help local worker. (SK)

86. Advise China to arrange for neutral foreign media and UN rep to visit Xinjiang to dispel genocide claim in Xinjiang in SCMP. (12Apr2021). SCMP report (27Apr2021) that Beijing takes foreign media to Xinjiang in bid to dispel suspicion.

87. Feedback to STB, Toursim voucher should use IC to exchange in CC rather than online if digitalisation is a rush job. And request extend deadline of expiry to Dec 2021 (26Nov2020). CNA (30Apr2021) STB to extend deadline from Jun 2021 to Dec 2021 and allow enhancement in tourism voucher redepmtion. If people encounter difficulties to redeem online, can use IC to redeem toursim vouchers in CC.

88. SK suggest in REACH Government should inform people who were present at the same place of visit or locations by infected people so that people can take precaution. (REACH - 14Sep2020). Government implement "SafeEntry - Were you there" website whereby people can access the website via SingPass to check whether people are in the same vicinty visited by infected people. (2May2021) (SK)

89. 23Nov2020 SK suggest in REACH to donate Tourism vouchers of $100 to charities if some people don't want to use it. CNA (30Apr2021) STB allow people to donate tourism voucher to charities. (SK)

90. 30 Apr 2021 suggest in REACH to vaccinate patients in hospitals if medically eligible as the patients don't put on mask in hospital wards. 5May2021 Mdm Ho Ching say in Facebook - patients should be vaccinated.

91. 27Apr2021 SK send a URL link which I send to REACH portal of a science journal that link mRNA vaccines (eg. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine) to neurological disease as the 2 proteins in body bind with mRNA molecules that cause aggregate protein in brain or spinal cord leading to dermentia or Parkinson disease. Straits Times 6May2021 report that Singapore medical experts debunk claims of link between Covid-19 vaccines and neurological diseases, say more evidence needed. Currently experimental evidence did not indicate the 2 proteins in body bind with mRNA molecules that cause aggregate protein in brain or spinal cord leading to dermentia or Parkinson disease. (SK)

92. 4May2021 Propose in REACH to prop up safe air bubble despite the community spread to keep our External Economy going. Consist of 4 safe ways to ensure safe travel without needing to quarantine. 6 May 2021 Straits Times Minister Ong Ye Kung propose 4 safe ways to ensure safe travel without needing to quarantine.

93. 10May2021 6.45pm Propose in REACH to let not racism take hold after a few cases of verbal or physical assault against Indians concerning India double mutants. 10May2021 11.20pm CNA report PM Lee HL and few leaders warn against racism hatred towards the Indians due to increase in India double mutants.

94. 10Apr2020 SK suggest a risk-based approach rather than evidence-based approach should be used as it is a more proactive method to tackle the covid pandemic. 5May2021 Minister Lawrence Wong say Singapore approach to this covid pandemic is risk-based. (SK)

95. 31Mar2020 SK suggest using GPS data and mobile signal to map up places visited by infected people. https://ppvpc.github.io/ implemented this suggestion of places visited by infected people onto Singapore map. (SK)

96. Suggest in REACH to use mass vaccination as the primary tool to solve this India double mutants and defeat the covid-19. (15May, 17May,2012). PM Lee Hsien Loong Facebook (18May2021) Vaccination remains one of the best ways to keep ourselves safe. We want to protect as many people as possible, and as soon as possible.

97. Suggest in REACH "Will the Government dispatch someone to coax elderly to vaccinate? Know of some elderly who are adverse of vaccination due to getting wrong facts from the news. Need the authorities to dispatch someone to educate and coax some of the elderly who are given letters for vaccination - but did not register to vaccinate. The dispatch person can help the elderly to register for vaccination once the elderly are convinced to be vaccinated." [2:49 pm, 02/03/2021]. Straits Times ( MAY 19, 2021, 12:36 AM.) Home Covid-19 vaccination service to be offered for those who are homebound. 

98. Suggest in REACH to tackle 2nd wave leading to Phase 2HA (Heightened Alert) - speedy contact tracing, testing, ring-fence, ramp up vaccination. (1May2021). CNA (31May2021). PM Lee televised speech - faster and more test, speedy contact tracing, and vaccination.

99. Suggest in REACH to consider using non-mRNA vaccine (eg. Sinovac) - for those people not suitable for mRNA vaccines due to allergies (21May2021). CNA (31May2021)  People who want alternative COVID-19 vaccines (due to allergies to mRNA vaccines) can get them under special access route - such as WHO approved Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson or Sinovac when WHO approved.

100. SK suggest in REACH - important to do aggressive testing to identify all infected cases - so that it can be ring-fence and control the spread. (25/04/2020) CNA (31May2021). PM Lee televised speech - faster and more test, speedy contact tracing, and vaccination. Many types of test kits are made available eg. breath analysers, DIY test kits, saliva test kits, seweage analysis in addition to ART and PCR. (SK)

101. Suggest in REACH - Mandatory Vaccination for whole population in Singapore to protect everyone - especially in endemic stage. (17/05/2021). Straits Times (1Jun2021) Covid-19 vaccine could become like yearly flu shot, say experts on Straits Times' panel discussion. 

“At some point, we will see Covid-19 being included as part of our national immunisation schedule for both adults and children, and perhaps we will need regular booster shots from time to time to make sure we continue to be protected, especially against any new emerging variants,” said Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore.

102. Commented in REACH (3Jun2021) that Singapore less than 40% vaccination rate among our population has not reached an inflection point - where we can treat covid as mild flu - as though we are in an endemic stage. We cannot be foolhardy and will be suicidal if we relax our restriction without observing what the math and science of the infection and vaccination rate tell us. Else many unvaccinated people will succumb.

CNA (4Jun2021) Singapore medical experts say that our Vaccination of less than 40% has not entitled us to take our foot off the brake. Else we are going to have an explosive situation. Only when we achieve a high Vaccination rate of 70 - 90% - then we have reach endemic stage - and can treat covid as mild flu. But those unvaccinated people will be most vulnerable to covid - as they are without protection and may land them in hospitals if they fail to vaccinate.

103. I post in SCMP (30 Apr, 2021) - urge China to develop and manifest "Heart Softpower" - --- that can win over many friends all over the World instead of focus on economic power or military might to win friendship.

CNA (04 Jun 2021) President Xi Jin Ping say that China needs to create a new image that is “trustworthy, lovable, and respectful”. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged senior party leaders and wants the country to learn how to make friends and influence people. This could be a sign of a shift in China’s foreign policy posture towards constructive engagement and away from confrontation.

104. Suggest in REACH (03Jun2021) that once vaccination rate reaches an inflection point like in Israel, US, UK, EU - above 50%, infection number fall drastically. Suggest Singapore must achieve this inflection point of vaccination. 

Straits Times (11Jun2021) MTF Lawrence Wong say Singapore is aiming for half its residents to be fully vaccinated by August, and at least 75 per cent by October 2021.

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong gave the projection at a news conference on Thursday (June 10), as he noted that the United States saw infection rates steadily come down - from a peak in January this year - when about half the population developed immunity to the coronavirus which causes Covid-19.

105. I commented in REACH (14 & 18Jun2021) - that Singapore has not reached endemic stage (mild flu) as we are only 30% over with 2 dose vaccination, and our infection number, hospitalisation number is still high. 

CNA (18Jun2021) (5pm) Singapore’s vaccination rates are currently “still not high enough” to provide sufficient protection in the population, said co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force Lawrence Wong on Friday (Jun 18).  

Speaking at a press conference, he noted the views of some people who think that since COVID-19 could be endemic,  Singapore should proceed with easing measures as planned and “not overreact to each and every new cluster”. “So if we were to ease our restrictions too early, big clusters can easily break out and overwhelm us and result in higher hospitalisation and even mortality for the vulnerable groups. That's exactly what we are worried about.” 

106. SK suggest in REACH (8Jun2021) to arrange school by school and class by class to vaccinate school children to ferry them by school bus. Parents who agree their children to vaccinate should just sign the consent form. Dr Maliki Osman, Senior MOS (21Jun2021)say MOE has plan to ferry school children to vaccination centre when school reopen after Jun holiday. (SK)

107. SK post in REACH (18Jun2021) that the MOH website on Breakdown of local cases by Vaccination and Severity of cases - There was no timeframe stamp for the collected statistics. Presume all three bars are tabulated from the same timeframe?

MOH update the timeframe (since 28Apr2021) based on the feedback (22Jun2021). (SK)

108. Suggest in REACH (1May2021) using ring-fence to quickly isolate any cluster detected.  

Straits Times 24Jun2021 MTF say "We are adopting an aggressive ring-fencing strategy - casting a wide net to isolated contacts of infected persons."

109. Suggest in REACH (30Apr2021) to monitor and use Israel vaccination model as our model for vaccination due to its positive outcome in curbing covid. 

Straits Times 24Jun2021 Israel's Covid-19 vaccine success gives hope to Singapore.

110. Suggest in REACH (21Jun2021) that treatment drugs will be an important tool - the moment we enter into endemic stage by treating covid as mild flu - as treatment is important to minimise hospitalisation, ICU, oxygen support and death - to enable fast recovery from covid. 

Straits Times 24Jun2021 Scientists around the World are working on treatments for Covid-19. Today, we already have a range of effective treatment, that is why we have very low mortality rates.

111. Post (January 21, 2016) to suggest Police should use handgun loaded with magazine of more than 10 rounds to replace revolvers - to deal with terrorism. 

CNA 20Jun2021 Singapore police switching to Glock pistols after two decades of using Taurus revolver - here's why

112. SK (17May2021) suggest using layer-by-layer approach to with education and then inconveniencing those who refuse to vaccinate first before jumping into mandatory vaccination. 

Minister Lawrence Wong 24Jun2021 say MTF is working on domestic policies to provide convenience to vaccinated people in attending events, social gatherings, religious activities. And vaccinated people can travel and return without SHN but more tests. (SK)

113. Suggest in REACH (28May, 21, 24, 25Jun2021) to impose Mandatory Vaccination for covid-19 for the whole population if to declare Endemic stage and treat covid-19 as mild flu. Without vaccination, unvaccinated people will succumb to serious illness or even death.

Channel 8 news 26Jun2021 MOE Minister Chan Chun Sing say exploring Mandatory Vaccination for covid-19 for students.

114. Suggest in REACH (16/02/2021) - 2. Layer-by-layer approach

Among the approaches we can adopt to convince "anti-vaxx" group to vaccinate :-

- TV, mainstream media, social media streaming of health experts, artistes, Government of encouraging people to get vaccinated, allay people's fear in vaccination etc.

Straits Times (27Jun2021) Ministers team up with local celebs in online videos to urge seniors in Singapore to get Covid-19 jabs.

115. SK (27Jun2021) suggest no PE for 1 to 2 weeks after school children got their vaccination jab to prevent heart exertion. 

Straits Times (28Jun2021) combat covid-19 expert committee chairman say "These include refraining from strenuous exercise for one week after the second dose and seeing a doctor if one feels unwell." (SK)

116. SK (21Jun2021) suggest in REACH to discern between being reckless and taking a risk-based approach. As our vaccination rates rise, we should look at the new metrics for reopening rather than mere numbers of new infections. We are learning to accept that zero-covid is unachievable, at least not in the near term. Then can our goal be near-zero deaths and serious illness? Then how much more can we stealthily reopen without the virus rearing it's ugly head?

CNA (7Jul2021) Groups of five can dine out from Jul 12; work-from-home remains the default. Gradual reopening plan (not reckless reopening). (SK)

117. I presented my solutions in ZOOM virtual meeting (4Jul2021) with Minister of National Development Desmond Lee and MOS Tan Kiat How as well as press media - on using multi-Dimensional Matrix as eligibility criteria that represent Singapore population demograhics as well as MOP of 10 years to curb speculative activities and keep the HDB flats at prime location down. I also suggest additional subsidies that can crawl back to make HDB flats at prime location affordable.

AsiaOne (4Jul2021) (8,42pm) Minister Desmond Lee say that HDB flats in prime location is a major social policy - not just about home or possible investment upside. Stricter eligibility criteria and more subsidies may be considered to make the HDB flats in prime location affordable.

118. SK propose time-slicing of the HDB lease period to make HDB flat affordable and reduce the needs for hefty Government grants and subsidies. I presented SK proposal as Solution 2 via ZOOM virtual meeting (4Jul2021) with Minister of National Development Desmond Lee and MOS Tan Kiat How as well as press media.

CNA (8Jul2021) say smaller homes, shorter-lease units due to shifting demograhpics such as smaller family units, a rise in singlehood and ageing population. Smaller flats will be useful for singles as lesser space is required and flats will be more affordable. Shorter lease is especially useful for elderly as elderly has shorter runway and short-lease will make the flats affordable. (SK)

119. I post in REACH (21Oct2020) suggesting that Singapore should act as a gateway between US and China technology, economic and financial bifurcation.

Straits Times (12Jul2021) As the United States seeks to decouple technologically from China and Beijing retaliates, there are opportunities to be had in this tussle for Singapore, a Chinese entrepreneur has said.

This is because there is a need for a buffer zone between the two sides, said Dr Xiao Feng, chairman and CEO of Wanxiang Blockchain Inc, at the FutureChina Global Forum on Monday (July 12) organised by Business China.

Singapore can be that "technological buffer zone to connect the two countries" as a digital free port, he said.

120. I suggest in REACH (05Jul2021) that MOH should consider revising no physical exercise for 2 weeks after jab. (As a boy got cardiac arrest 6 days after jab do weightlifting). (Note :- MOH currently advise after 2nd jab - avoid strenous exercise for 1 week). 

Straits Times (15Jul2021) Recruits, NSmen to avoid strenuous activities for 2 weeks after Covid-19 jabs - say SAF.

121. SK suggest in REACH (18Jul2021) I see this as an opportunity to push for people to bring forward their vaccinations. The past 7 days vaccination looked below capacity. If this is the trend for next few weeks, then strongly encourage people to bring forward their appointments.For those isolated and quarantined, once their confinement period is over and they have not been vaccinated, strongly encourage them to do so. Strike while iron is hot.

Straits Times (19Jul2021) Seniors most at risk of getting serious Covid-19 symptoms, should get vaccinated as soon as possible: MOH. (SK)

122. I and SK suggest in REACH (18Jul2021) Delta variants R0 = 5 - 8, thus need 80% vaccination for population to achieve herd immunity. Smallpoxe with R0 > 10 need 100% vaccination.

Straits Times (19Jul2021) Professor Ooi Eng Eong, a microbiologist at the Duke-NUS Medical School, said: "The Delta variant is a lot more infectious. Measures that worked in the past may not be as effective."

With a transmission rate of 5-8, in other words, one infected person is likely to infect between five and eight people who are not vaccinated (those who have been vaccinated may get infected, but the rate would be much lower), Prof Ooi said vaccination is the best strategy.

That was how smallpox, with a similar transmission rate, was controlled.

Today, about 2.7 million people, or roughly half the population, have been fully vaccinated, with another 1.5 million partially vaccinated.

Singapore plans to ease restrictions once two-thirds of people here are fully vaccinated. So time is running out for the one million eligible people still dithering about whether to get vaccinated.

123. I suggest in REACH (19Jul2021) that if we are unable to confidently subdue the KTV wave or the JFP wave from spreading, the only way to bring the infection down to single digit and zero - is to rollback and tighten the measures.

CNA (20Jul2021) Return to tighter measures needed as COVID-19 infections likely to 'rise sharply' at current transmission rates: MOH.

124. SK suggest in REACH (12Jul2021) - elderly who have regular appointments to monitor their sugar, blood, cholesterol at polyclinics. Direct them to vaccinate if they are well. Similarly, all specialist clinic doctors who serve elderly should btw advise them and counter staff to help make appointments.

CNA news (20Jul2021) Minister Ong Ye Kung in MTF say that Government is calling personal doctors of elderly to persuade the elderly to vaccinate. (SK)

125. Suggest in REACH (16, 18, 19 Jul 2021) that unless we have achieve more than 80% mass vaccination herd immunity, any suggestions of endemic is fatal. So to defeat this covid pandemic - mass vaccination must ramp up to what the transmission model say - only then we talk about endemic. 

Straits Times (20Jul2021) Mr Gan said: "I think we are on an expressway towards the final objective of endemic Covid-19. But along the way, there will be bumps, and sometimes you may have roadblocks, you may have obstacles, and you may need to make a detour.

"But eventually, when we overcome the roadblocks, we will come back to the expressway and continue the journey."

He said the need remained to be flexible and respond quickly as the situation evolved in order to keep it under control.

126. Suggest in REACH (16Jul 2021) that Yes agree to endemic only if 80% are fully vaccinated. Not now when 58% are not fully vaccinated - when it can easily overwhelm the hospitalisation.

Straits Times (20Jul2021) About 71 per cent of seniors aged 70 and above here have been vaccinated. Another 100,000 or so in this age group have yet to be vaccinated, Mr Ong added.

"They have a high likelihood of falling critically ill once infected. Almost every one of them, if infected, will end up in hospital because they are high risk, and 10 to 15 per cent of them, based on our experience, will end up in the ICU (intensive care unit)."

He added: "In our case, (with) 50 per cent fully vaccinated or received two doses, plus having 200,000 or more seniors above 60 still unvaccinated, I think we still have work to do."

127. I suggest in REACH (20, 22Jul 2021) that only Mandatory Vaccination can make elderly vaccinate. Else talk until the cow come home - these elderly will not budge.

200,000 elderly unvaccinated. Because it can easily overwhelm our hospitals resources if so many elderly don't get vaccinated. This is the main reason why we need again to lockdown. To resolve the root cause of lockdown - get elderly to vaccinate. If elderly refuse to vaccinate out of misguided fear - despite all efforts to educate them fail --- mandate compulsory vaccination for their own good and for the good of the community.

Straits Times (23Jul2021) Until and unless vaccination is made compulsory, this elderly group will remain. Is it fair for the country to come to a standstill to cater to a stubborn minority? Earlier this year, the task force said it is not the overall infection numbers, but rather the number who are seriously ill that is important, as this could impact hospital care, or even overwhelm hospital services. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung explained on Facebook the recent decision to tighten measures: "Markets are frequented by seniors, many of whom remain unvaccinated.

128. SK suggest in REACH (19Jul 2021) that Moving forward, measures may  have to discern vaccinated and unvaccinated. 

Straits Times (26Jul2021) Singapore MTF to review Covid-19 rules in early August, ease measures for vaccinated people if situation under control. (SK)

129. Post in REACH (28Jul2021) using tree diagram math model and AI predictive simulation model - to predict and forecast the percentage of mass vaccination to defeat covid (Delta variants).

Straits Times (29Jul2021) Straits times 29Jul2021 report 2 NUS public health teams carrying out modeling to predict the number of infection, unvaccinated, partially vaccinated correspond to severe illness and require hospital care.

130. Post in SCMP (25Jul2021) for SuperPowers not to engage in conflict over ideological differences but instead of collaborating on how to tackle global pandemics, climate, economy and other global issues.

SCMP (29Jul2021) Hong Kong tricked into buying US and British myths on freedoms, democracy. America is really an oligarchy and Hongkongers must be wise to the failings of the US system. Hong Kong should adopt a Singapore-style system, which has proved successful when it comes to necessities like housing, health care and pension.

131. Post in REACH (22Jul2021) by declaring endemic and not looking at infection number when majority has not been fully vaccinated is premature - will result in high hospitalisation and serious illness - and overwhelm the hospital resources. SK mention that the right timing and right condition to declare enedmic is important - else may result in unintended consequences. (SK)

CNA (31Jul2021) report that as infection number goes up due to Delta variants, hospitalisation and serious illness also go up even among the vaccinated. US CDC report that unless everyone is vaccinated, only then endemic plan may work.

132. I suggest in REACH (3May2021) hospital patients should be vaccinated at the hospital if medically eligible - so they can be protected from covid in the hospital.

CNA news (4Aug2021) All patients who are unvaccinated will be approached by hospital healthcare team on covid-19 vaccination if clinically appropriate.

Patients who received their 1st dose covid vaccination at the hospital should return to the same hospital for their 2nd dose, said MOH.

133. I posted in REACH (6Aug2021) 6. Remember no one is safe unless everyone is safe.

Even if 10% is unvaccinated, > 500,000 people are unvaccinated and will serve as a Trojan that will reinfect the majority.

To conclude, I will like to urge the government to give serious consideration to the above suggestions before declaring endemic.

Everyone life is important. We can protect each and everyone - with a stroke of the law to mandate compulsory vaccination.

MoEnv Grace Fu echo what I say in REACH (6Aug2021) in channel 8 interview today 10Aug2021 at 7pm.

Even with 10% unvaccinated, 500,000 over people will be unvaccinated.

Given Delta variants high transmission rate, it will still be dangerous for Singapore.

That means, the government will likely not able to tolerate 90% vaccination and will likely shoot for 100% vaccination.

Look like to achieve 100% vaccination, mandatory vaccination can only achieve this target.

134. SK suggest in REACH (19Jul2021) Consider issuing vaccinated persons with a card size vaccination cert for ease of validation. Moving forward, measures may  have to discern vaccinated and unvaccinated. Currently, people can pass off with a fake screen shot. 

AsiaOne (12Aug2021) Severe penalty for individuals caught using someone else's vaccine cert, warns Ong Ye Kung.H ealth Minister Ong Ye Kung has warned against using another person's vaccination certificate in order to be allowed to dine at restaurants, saying the authorities are aware this is happening.

135. I suggest in REACH (04Aug2021) Full HBL only happens during CB. Full WFH only happens during CB. Now is not CB, phase 2 HA. Thus full HBL and WFH is not activated as a big proportion of people are vaccinated. Targeted approach for school and 50% hybrid for workforce will not support a full HBL for children.

Phase 2 HA affect the whole country, and the whole economy - not just schools. Government, business, workers, school children need careful coordination. Moe cannot decide alone all HBL. Remember our last CB - cost our government finance $100 billion. We cannot afford another such hit. Also we cannot compromise the quality of the education just because there is pandemic. Employers will be as demanding on the workers performance.

Straits Times (13Aug2021) The Ministry of Education (MOE) will “fine tune” its response to COVID-19 cases in schools to “minimise the disruptions” while keeping students safe, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Friday (Aug 13). Since early August, the ministry has moved towards a “more targeted approach” that affects a more narrowly defined group of students whenever there is a positive COVID-19 case in school, he wrote in a Facebook post. Full HBL has its limitations and is disruptive to students, parents and teachers. It is not a sustainable option and must be our last resort,”.

136. SK suggest in REACH (11Aug2021) Job market virtualisation is a reality and happening very fast. Foreigners can work on sg project from their homes in a foreign land. Similarly, Singaporeans should be brave to take up overseas project/assignments and work from sg home.

Straits Times (14Aug2021) Not possible to 'bubble wrap' S'poreans from foreign competition, especially with rise of remote work: DPM Heng. Compounding the matter is the normalisation of remote work due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the recognition that "working from home" is just one step away from "working from anywhere".

137. SK suggest in REACH (16Aug2021) [12:46 pm] Then MOH should publish 0 person died from vaccination; x persons out of xxxx vaccinated had serious side effects. How many recovered etc.Just state the facts. Set up a channel for people to quiz the ministry if the messages they received were true, and ministry to post answers - like a fact checker resource site to debunk misinformation. Esp those info which has been tagged as "forwarded" or "forwarded many times".

Straits Times (16Aug2021) [6:46 pm] For the national vaccination programme, a total of 7,567,466 doses have been administered, out of which 9,403 suspected adverse event reports were received. Of these, 389 reports - or 0.005 per cent of administered doses - were classified as serious adverse events, as at July 31. For the Sinovac vaccine, 47 reports - or 0.0451 per cent - were received for 104,061 doses, including four serious reports. HSA said the adverse events were consistent with those typically observed following any vaccination. "These typically resolve within a few days. Among the serious adverse events reports, the most frequently reported adverse events were anaphylaxis and other severe allergic reactions."  "Although there is a small increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in the younger age groups (30 years and below), the local incidence rate remains low. HSA, in its statement, said most cases in the younger age group have responded well to treatment and have recovered, or were discharged well from hospital. It said: "It is important to note that heart attacks and strokes occur naturally within our population, regardless of whether or not people are vaccinated. "The frequency of heart attacks and strokes in vaccinated persons locally is within the background incidence rates, and to date, there is no evidence that the vaccines can directly cause these events."

138. I post in REACH (16/08/2021) Misinformation about people that pass away after vaccination are being spread around in social media - frightening people to vaccinate.

Such misinformation go without challenge - and strike fear among people - whether elderly, and vaccine hesitant people - this holding back vaccination.

For government to successfully persuade this group of people, we must first tackle such misinformation.

I have spoken to some elderly.

I also received information on why some educated people why some are still holding back on vaccination.

All express the same reason - that some people have died after 1st and 2nd jabs - but not reported in mainstream media. But social media reported such incidents.

They attributed the vaccination cause the death.

I told them if Vaccination is the cause of the death, it will usually be reported. 

The death could be due to their existing illness.

But they say how come so coincidental - when after the jab, some people pass away.

So they say they are fearful to get the jab.

They fear vaccination trigger death - more than contracting the virus.

Unless we can reassure this last percentile group that those reported in social media are misinformation - we will have difficulty convincing this last group to vaccinate.

CNA (18Aug2021) There is a natural tendency for negative events to catch attention when the causal effects have not been investigated or established, such as the claim an 81-year-old here had died of an allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination in April. The Ministry of Health clarified that the man died of heart disease and not because of the vaccine. Videos from around the world linking vaccination to deaths have also gone viral and had to be corrected, but the resulting public fear over vaccines was hard to rectify.

In one example, a video circulating in January showed a young man in Israel supposedly fainting at a vaccination site with the caption alleging he died 15 minutes after receiving his second dose. Fact-checkers later verified the man was treated, sent home, and was alive.

139. SK suggest in REACH (20Jul2021) Say gov come out with some kind of tamper proof sticker where fully vaccinated persons can stick on their NRIC/driver licence cards for adults and NRIC/student pass for students. Then gov can consider allowing businesses to operate on a model for vaccinated customers. SDAs are empowered to check for strict compliances. 

 CNA (19Aug2021)

140. SK suggest in REACH (18Jul2021) So moving into endemic is necessary for SG after we have hit our highest vaccinated rate as practically as possible. Just remember that there's no proven path, we have to  feel every step of the riverbed as we cross the river (摸着石头过河)。Every step of the way is a judgement call, let's stay together and not be divided if things don't turn out well as hoped or expected.

Yahoo news (19 August 2021) Singapore won't reach COVID herd immunity: Lawrence Wong. Instead, Singapore must be mentally prepared that cases will rise as the country resumes activities and reopens its economy in a controlled manner, he said. "We are feeling the stones as we cross the river."

141. I propose in REACH (26Jul2021 - current) Mandatory Vaccination to ensure 100% vaccination - because no one is safe until everyone is safe once Health Authority granted full and final approval for covid vaccination for public use. US FDA granted full and final approval Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as covid vaccination for public use on 23 Aug 2021.

I say in REACH (20Aug2021) Malaysia vaccination rate is lower than both US and UK - R0 > 10. Hence 100% vaccination is essential to stop Delta.

PM Lee NDR Rally 2021 say [29/08/2021] Government will come to you one by one until everyone is vaccinated - before the virus come to you. It is as good as Mandatory Vaccination! 100% vaccination - our vaccination target.

AFP news (27Aug2021) Waning immunity? -

According to data published this week by US authorities, the efficacy of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines at preventing infection has fallen from 91 percent to 66 percent since Delta became the dominant variant.

And studies have shown that the vaccine efficacy against infection with Delta falls over time -- one of the reasons why several countries are now readying for an autumn third shot, or "booster", vaccination campaign.

With all this taken into account, absent other health measures such as mask-wearing or social distancing, Sofonea said it would take more than 100 percent of people to be vaccinated in order to guarantee transmissions end.

142. SK suggest in REACH (11Aug2021) The objective of having vaccination-differentiated measures such as regular testing at workplace is not clear to me.

We have seen too many breakthroughs on vaccinated persons. So to me if the goal is to isolate the infected, and therefore help to contain the spread, then both vaccinated and unvaccinated should be subjected to regular tests. The differentiated treatment to me, should then be more frequently for unvaccinated and less frequently for vaccinated since there are studies that claimed that vaccinated has lower chance of getting infected.

Straits Times (6Sep2021) These tests will continue to be administered primarily through the Employer Supervised Self-Swab scheme. The Government will subsidise the cost of all tests under this enhanced surveillance regime, for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, until the end of this year.

143. SK suggest in REACH [04/09/2021][1:38 pm, 06/09/2021] When cases rise, serious cases rise proportionately. Still can overwhelm healthcare capacity. Open up carefully.

CNA news 06 Sep 2021 06:04PM (Updated: 06 Sep 2021 09:29PM) Singapore needs to “take quick action” to dampen the increasing likelihood of an "exponential rise" in COVID-19 cases, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (Sep 6). Speaking to reporters, Mr Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force, said the transmission rate of COVID-19 has to be slowed down.

144. SK suggest in REACH [06Sep2021] When cases rise, serious cases rise proportionately. Still can overwhelm healthcare capacity. Open up carefully.

CNA news (10Sep2021) “Although our vaccination rate has now surpassed that of many countries and is one of the highest in the world, we want to be sure that the number of cases will not suddenly spike, which can lead to more serious cases, and which will, in turn, overwhelm our healthcare system.” 

145. SK suggest in REACH [08Sep2021] So I'm happy to hear gov taking a strong stance to institutionalized workplace surveillance testing to pick up more cases and enforce micro-lockdown to slow transmission. This will then help improve premptive efforts to arrest potential infections. Vaccination has its limits. I'm not asking for more HA measures but target at more aggressive and contact tracing.

Both my close friend views and my views are identical - somewhere in the middle between tighter lockdown or remain endemic. Slight tightening to bring number down, but remains open for the Economy and allow some social movements.

CNA news (10 Sep 2021) Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said Singapore is sticking to its course for now on a transition towards endemic living. "As far as possible, we don’t want to reverse course in our transition plan," said Mr Ong.  For now, we are not reversing, we still want to progress on our transitioning journey. But we’re not racing ahead, we are actively responding, watching and monitoring.”

“And that’s why we are not making a return to the heightened alert, because there is tremendous fatigue … Our focus is not the daily numbers, but we’re looking at the hospital system and therefore with a high vaccination rate, there is no need to go back at this time to a heightened alert,” he added. 

146. SK suggest in REACH [08Sep2021] So I'm happy to hear gov taking a strong stance to institutionalized workplace surveillance testing to pick up more cases and enforce micro-lockdown to slow transmission.

Straits Times (12Sep2021) Chinatown Complex closed after Covid-19 cluster with 66 cases; S’pore reports 555 new infections.

147. I suggest in REACH (8Sep2021) Let us achieve 100% vaccination. Government can take a stronger stance such as Mandatory Vaccination. Unvaccinated people must also play their part to vaccinate. Children below 12 years old must also fully vaccinated. Then we can do a better fully vaccinated controlled endemic opening.

Straits Times (12Sep2021) S'pore should make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory, so measures can ease for everyone. Salma Khalik Senior Health Correspondent.

148. I suggest in REACH (18Aug2021) 1. Get everyone vaccinated 100%. Mandate vaccination if necessary when final approval is granted.

a. Because herd immunity is no longer possible as many medical experts say so even if 95% are vaccinated.

b. Even if 10% unvaccinated will have 570,000 people unvaccinated and put pressure on our hospital resources.

c. Adopt 100% vaccination like other dangerous virus pandemic such as smallpox measles mumps rubella diphtheria polio TB etc.

Straits Times (12Sep2021) It is the estimated 500,000 people who are eligible but have chosen not to get vaccinated who are threatening the healthcare system. Mandatory vaccination is not a new concept. That was largely how the world eradicated smallpox. In Singapore, it is legally required for children to be vaccinated against diphtheria and measles.

149. I suggest in REACH (5Jul2021) MOH should consider revising no physical exercise for 2 weeks after jab.

CNA news (16Sep2021) Separately, people who have just received their jabs should also avoid strenuous physical activity for two weeks, instead of the one week that was previously recommended, the committee said.

Straits Times (16Sep2021) Avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks after Covid-19 vaccine jabs, instead of 1 week, says expert panel.

150. I suggest in REACH (15Sep2021) 1. The current daily infection number - that jump by 100 a day and yesterday close to 200 jump to 832 infected --- the highest record. 2. Is this infected a number a cause for concern? 3. Yes it is. Becasue the higher the infection number - hospitalisation number will go up, serious cases will go up and even death may go up. 4. So there is a need to tame the infection number. We want to see with all the above measures introduce, how far can Delta spread and when Delta will die down on its own ------ with our high vaccination rate, and continue push for 100% vaccination. Also will hospitalisation number, serious cases or death --- kept in check (control by our high vaccination rate). This will be an important data for us ---- in preparation for the endemic. c. There must be a threshold set for our this pilot test. If the hospitalisation number or serious cases or death hit that threshold - we must stop this pilot test - and do a hard brake --- to bring the hospitalisation, serious cases or death down - and hence the infection number down.

d. This 2 to 4 weeks are our crucical monitoring period ---- to see how far Delta can go - and how far our vaccination rate and our social distancing measures can tame this current wave of Delta. e. After 2 to 4 weeks time, we will need to re-org and determine what will be our next step forward --- where hopefully our vaccination can hit 90% (ie. all elderly and adults are vaccinated).

 Straits Times (15Sep2021) It will be an unprecedented accomplishment for Singapore to ride out the current wave of infections without paying a price in human lives, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Wednesday (Sept 15). This is why the country is watching so closely to see if more Covid-19 cases will lead to more severe illness and death. In contrast, Singapore's current wave of transmission started 23 days ago, with about 6,600 new infections in that time. There were also seven admissions to intensive care and two deaths, which were predominantly accounted for by unvaccinated people. The country is riding this wave in a "relatively naive state, without natural antibodies but with vaccine-generated immunity", Mr Ong said. Thus, it is prudent for the Republic to hold its position while deciding on its next steps.

151. I suggest in REACH (17Sep2021) I keep suggesting because US FDA has grant full approval to the vaccines. I am pushing HSA for the same and hence mandatory vaccination. Not only I keep pushing, few MPs and even medical experts push too. But it is up to policy makers. US FDA has given the assurance and approval. Only waiting for HSA. I think government is waiting for the right moment, when all jigs, vaccines, safety data are in place before they will follow what the US FDA do.

CNA news (18Sep2021) The question of whether Singapore would make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory was raised in Parliament on Tuesday (Sep 14). Highlighting Singapore’s high vaccination rates and acceptance by the population, Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary said that full approval of COVID-19 vaccines will continue to go through.  In Singapore, the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been given emergency approval for the national vaccination programme under pandemic circumstances but have not been registered with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), pending more medical data.

The US Food and Drug Administration announced on Aug 23 that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine received full approval, after the completion of updated clinical trials with six months of follow-up of a larger clinical trial population and a more extensive review of manufacturing facilities, plans and processes. This paves the way for the US to implement vaccine mandates in a bigger range of settings including in the workplace, said Dr St John. However, despite overwhelming evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, it is “still important to wait for that regulatory approval and due diligence” here.h due process, with the Health Ministry monitoring the matter.

152. I suggest in REACH (17Sep2021) We are not the first. Indonesia, US are among the first to mandate vaccination. 

CNA news (18Sep2021) He added that Singapore’s situation was vastly different from that in the US, which had rolled out an aggressive slew of vaccine mandates on Sep 9, following the US Food and Drug Administration’s full authorisation of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.

153. I suggest in REACH (17Sep2021) Unless the government or someone propose a better solution to make 100% vaccination. I will happily support it. Until now, no one has better ideas and the infection number are raging and lockdown could be impending. My only complain is - how to hasten the process of Vaccinating the remaining 285,000 elderly and adults. Probably government can offer a big monetary reward to the one that offer good working ideas or actions that  successfully Vaccinate the remaining unvaccinated people.

CNA news (18Sep2021) Ramping up communications to convince those on the fence, along with differentiated measures nudging more to take the shot can help get vaccination rates up, say infectious diseases experts on CNA’s Heart of the Matter podcast. But it requires relentless work – with doctors and nurses on the ground speaking to patients, even continuing community outreach and webinars after clinic hours, Dr Lye confesses. And he will not let up in persuading people to take the vaccine. “To all listeners, if you want me to talk to your social groups, I am contactable to clarify your doubts. (But) it is important to not be overly harsh on these (unvaccinated) people because mental health is a major fallout from this pandemic as well.”

154. I suggest in REACH (23Aug2021) This infringe the Hippocratic oath. 1. Hippocratic oath apply to fair treatment to all people when people get ill. Medical professionals worldwide make such declaration before conferring the certification to become doctors.

CNA news (18Sep2021) Dr Lye warned against penalising unvaccinated people who catch COVID-19 too harshly, which could discourage them from coming forward when they catch the virus. He said one of the reasons behind Singapore’s “exceptionally low” COVID-19 mortality rates has been its ability to detect infections early, monitor and treat severe cases aggressively but that could be undermined if the unvaccinated decide not to seek medical care until they are “gasping for air”.

155. I suggest in REACH (8Sep2021) 5. Looking for solutions to block the infection at the source become vital - as vaccination can no longer effective in preventing infection at the source (ie. nose and mouth viral load transmission). 6. 7 Nasal spray that are currently on trial worldwide (eg. Israel, US, Singapore etc)- need to be closely look at. 7. If Nasal spray solutions can effectively block the covid viral load from being propagated - if people remove their masks to eat, talk, sneeze, cough, excrete mucous, saliva or running nose ---- then nasal spray will have cover the inadequacies of vaccination to prevent and block infection. 8. If nasal spray is effective, then covid spread will have been effectively curb - as it cannot jump host.

Yahoo news (AFP news)(September 18, 2021) Vaccine nasal sprays aim to 'shut door' on virus. The World Health Organization says clinical trials are underway to evaluate eight nasal spray vaccines that target Covid-19. Stimulating immunity directly in the nose "lowers the risk of infecting other people", said Mielcarek. "From there you have less of the virus infecting the lungs and so fewer severe cases since the viral load is lower," she added.

156. I say in REACH (8Sep2021) 4. Hence I will like to coin the concept of "Vaccinated Controlled Endemic" with high vaccination (100% vaccination if possible) as a baseline to live with the covid as endemic while reopening the domestic and international Economy. That's step by step reopening with safeguard and not uncontrolled endemic. The middle path between zero covid and full endemic. "Feeling the stones mindfully, as you cross the river".

Straits Times (22Sep2021) MOH Ong Ye Kung - At the same time, this does not mean Singapore should lift all restrictions and open up to the extent that countries like Britain and the United States have. "What we need to do is to take the middle road, and everyone needs to adjust so that we can co-exist with the virus and find a new balance," he said. He added that there was a difference between co-existing with Covid-19 and treating it as an endemic disease like influenza.

157. REACH (24Sep2021) (1.34pm)

My comments :-

1. This past 1 week - the infection number is raging. Many serious cases and quite a number of death - and sign of hospital resources and medical staff strain and overwhelm

2. Yesterday, I was thinking of, should I draft out the condition for more restrictive measures - to tame the infection number - while ramping up vaccination to the remaining unvaccinated people and roll out booster shot for those elderly.

3. But then when I went out for jogging I see people struggling to keep their business going.

4. I now hesitated.

Because it cut both ways.

Right damn, left also damn.

手心是肉。手背也是肉。

It hurts either way.

5. Reduce casualties or make people's life suffer without business and jobs?

SK comments:-

1. That's why have to let people decide at the individual level. 

2. Gov decides at the macro level which is to keep it open and learn to live with covid. 

3. At individual level we have to protect ourselves with vaccines, mask and through social distancing. Decide how much/ little socialisation is required.

My comments :-

1. Yes I guess now this is still the best way forward.

2. Until and unless the infection number go up exponentially and too many succumb to become casualty.

SK comments:-

1. Then gov decides.

My comments :-

1. Yes government will know what is the hospitalisation threshold that it can hold.

2. Beyond this threshold, the hospital resources paralyzed - and this will be the point that I believe government will have to declare a restrictive measures to tame the number - and ensure hospital resources are normalised and the medical staff not overly strained or worst succumb to infection.

3. But looking at the current trajectory - it doesn't smell good.

CNA news (24Sep2021) (6.31pm, updated 8pm) The tightening of safe management measures was a "very difficult decision", said co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force Gan Kim Yong at a press conference on Friday.

“We know that this would affect many businesses and people,” he added. "While doing so may not reduce the number of daily new infections immediately, it will allow us to slow down the speed of increase and avoid overtaxing our healthcare workers." 

158. I suggest in REACH (24Sep2021) (1.34pm) 2. Yesterday, I was thinking of, should I draft out the condition for more restrictive measures - to tame the infection number - while ramping up vaccination to the remaining unvaccinated people and roll out booster shot for those elderly.

Straits Times (24 Sep 2021) (night) - Tighter Covid-19 restrictions will give the Government more time to deliver booster shots and vaccinate those still not vaccinated, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a Facebook post on Friday night (Sept 24 2021).

159. I post in REACH [5:04 pm, 24/09/2021]  1. Hospitals resources and medical staff has a hard quota. The moment this quota threshold is hit - a lockdown is imminent. Else our healthcare system paralyzed and crumbled.

CNA news (08 Oct 2021 08:19PM) COVID-19 isolation bed occupancy at 85%; hospital manpower a 'key resource constraint': MOH. Nonetheless, the large daily caseload has placed "significant strain" on Singapore's healthcare system, it said. "A key resource constraint we now face is our healthcare manpower," said MOH.

CNA news (09 Oct 2021 12:25PM) However, with a limit to how much the country can expand in terms of manpower, Singapore has to moderate the surge in COVID-19 cases, PM Lee said.

160.I post in REACH [12:11 pm, 29/09/2021]: 

1. The concept of Home Recovery Program I support for the following reasons:-

a. Can give up hospital beds for serious cases.

b. Less cost for patients and taxpayer to bear if rest at home.

c. Mentally people are more at ease at home - for the patients and their families members

CNA news (09 Oct 2021 12:25PM) This is why the country has shifted to relying heavily on home recovery, said Mr Lee, adding that it will be the norm for COVID-19 cases.“You can get well in a familiar home setting, without the stress and bother of admitting yourself into a care facility. If most of us can recover at home, it will greatly ease the strain on our hospitals, doctors and nurses,” he said.

161. I post in REACH [2:23 pm, 06/10/2021] : 

5. Endemic occur when our total population achieve a superhuman immunity.

We are still not there yet.

6. Superhuman immunity = Vaccination immunity + booster

7. Superhuman immunity = vaccination immunity + natural infection immunity

8. Singapore are now in covid naive state - experiencing high infection despite > 80% vaccination.

9. We are not in endemic state. And we need to protect those vulnerable from hospitalisation.

Straits Times (09 Oct 2021) PM Lee pointed out that the majority of Singaporeans have never experienced an infection and are Covid-19-naive. This means the natural population immunity is low - even if people have been vaccinated, they are still at some risk of getting infected. This is why Singaporeans must be prepared to see quite many Covid-19 cases for some time to come, he said.

162. SK post in REACH [0:10 pm, 13/09/2021] Said before, when cases rise, serious cases rise proportionately.

Straits Times (09 Oct 2021) "As total cases grow exponentially, the number of serious cases will also grow in step. And when the number of cases grows very large, even 2 per cent of a very large number will translate to many patients needing hospital and ICU (intensive care unit) beds. Our healthcare system would rapidly be overwhelmed. "That is why last month we tightened up our restrictions. It was to slow down the growth in cases, so that we can ease the burden on our healthcare workers and stabilise our healthcare system." (SK)

163. I post in REACH [10:15 am, 20/09/2021]

b. To holdout the current spike till 70 days (the maximum spike cycle in which Delta and other covid strains manifest - in low vaccination Countries like India, Indonesia etc to high vaccination Countries like Israel, UK, US, EU) --- and see how and whether our current covid and Delta wave spike and subside.

This wave cycle will be an extremely important data for us ---- how are we going to live with covid come endemic.

If we successfully witness the whole cycle of infection, spike and remission -- without overwhelming our hospital resources ---- then we will have all the vital data and know-how - how to live with covid in endemic.

Straits Times (09 Oct 2021) 4. Daily cases likely to rise for a few more weeks, 'new normal' three to six months away.

The healthcare system will likely stay under pressure for the next few weeks as daily cases continue to rise, but cases will eventually decline. From the experience of other countries, this could be hopefully within a month or so, said PM Lee. 

164.I post in REACH [3:04 pm, 04/10/2021] :-

2 ways we can go endemic:-

1. Natural infection immunity + vaccinated immunity = superhuman immunity.

(Denmark and Norway do this with many death) - now they can endemic.

2. Israel and Singapore do vaccinated immunity + booster or Natural infection Immunity.

(Less death) - only when all vital number go down then we can endemic.

Watch out for Israel outcome - I think their trajectory is going very well.

So we must achieve 100% vaccination plus booster.

And if the number turn out well - we can declare endemic.

Straits Times (09 Oct 2021) People will know the new normal has been reached when restrictions are largely lifted, there are only light measures in place, daily new cases remain stable at hundreds a day without growing, and hospitals will be able to go back to business as usual. Some countries such as those in Europe have already reached this state but paid dearly in lives lost along the way, noted Mr Lee. Singapore will get there in a careful and safe manner, with as few casualties as possible.

165.I post in REACH [10:18 am, 20/09/2021]

Part 2 - Superhuman Immunity

1. Increasingly, overseas study and our local study have discovered that if a person is infected with covid and subsequently received vaccination or vice versa - Superhuman Immunity can be achieved.

That is :-

Vaccination Immunity + Natural infection Immunity (or booster in which Israel, EU, UK and Singapore try to establish whether have the same effect) = Superhuman Immunity

b. To holdout the current spike till 70 days (the maximum spike cycle in which Delta and other covid strains manifest - in low vaccination Countries like India, Indonesia etc to high vaccination Countries like Israel, UK, US, EU) --- and see how and whether our current covid and Delta wave spike and subside.

This wave cycle will be an extremely important data for us ---- how are we going to live with covid come endemic.

If we successfully witness the whole cycle of infection, spike and remission -- without overwhelming our hospital resources ---- then we will have all the vital data and know-how - how to live with covid in endemic.

CNA (20Oct2021) Mr Wong also acknowledged this has been "probably the most difficult phase" in Singapore's journey through the pandemic so far.

But he added that it will not last "indefinitely", as the wave of infections will peak at some point.

The population also has better immunity against the virus as more people get exposed to it, alongside the country's booster shot programme, he said.

166.I post in REACH (27Sep2021)

5. The current vaccination strategy, theraputics treatment and safe distancing measures --- are not perfect ----- and hence watching how the current Delta wave overwhelming our hospital resources, and straining our medical staff ---- is very important ---- as it will cripple our healthcare system if we fail to do so.

6. Hospital resources have been under stress, even though now we manage to stretch and cope. But if this go on further - our healthcare system will collapse ---- as many patients of other illness have been postpone and move to other healthcare facilities.

Other Countries like UK - has already see many death not from covid - but due to lack of treatment - as hospital resources are taken up by covid patients.

(20Oct2021)

This is the main consideration determining current government measures.

CNA (20Oct2021) “Unfortunately, given the continuing pressures on our healthcare system, more time is needed for the situation to stabilise,” said MOH in a media release.

167. I post in REACH [12:51 pm, 18/10/2021] 

1. UAE 10 million people population but less than 100 infection case per day down from 4,000 cases. Nearly 95% drop in infection with no death.

2. Singapore 5.45 million people clock more than 3,000 per day with single to double digits death.

3. Definitely we are at a high infection stage far from endemic.

1. I can be very sure that if we loosen restrictions now, our infection number will shoot up to 5,000 infection cases a day.

Hospitalisation number will go up and death will go up.

2. If we don't see a downward trajectory in infection number, hospital number and death soon - we should not think of loosening any restrictions any time soon.

Straits Times (OCT 20, 2021) Singapore will extend its Covid-19 restrictions until Nov 21, as the country’s healthcare system is at risk of being overwhelmed.

168.I post in REACH (20Oct2021) Singapore has the 2nd lowest death among the list compile. Thanks to our government middle path approach. Proper balance of restrictions measures to safeguard public health safety and maintaining our livelihood through targeted reopening - make Singapore a safe place living with covid and yet can let our Economy function.

(21Oct2021) a. Our Government adopt the "Middle Path" approach - a fine balance to safeguard both the public lives and livelihood - and hold this fine balance until this Delta wave do a downward trajectory from 4 figures infection number - to a low infection number, low and manageable hospitalisation number, oxygen support, ICUs and mininmal or zero death

CNA (23Oct2021) “We are trying very hard to take a middle-ground approach, not to go into either extreme or staying put where we are, nor opening up too liberally and risking a surge of cases that can overwhelm our healthcare system,” he said. 

The Government assesses these risks with experts and advisers, Mr Lawrence Wong added.

Straits Times (23Oct2021) Mr Ong said Singapore is taking a middle path between the extremes.

"Our approach is unique in the world. Most countries take either of the following two approaches - eradication or living with Covid. We did both.

"A few months ago, after we vaccinated the large majority of our population, we moved to a living-with-Covid approach, but do it progressively step by step, not with a big bang," said Mr Ong.

169.(21Oct2021) a. Our Government adopt the "Middle Path" approach - a fine balance to safeguard both the public lives and livelihood - and hold this fine balance until this Delta wave do a downward trajectory from 4 figures infection number - to a low infection number, low and manageable hospitalisation number, oxygen support, ICUs and mininmal or zero death. This is because no rocket can shoot up and up without coming down - as its fuel one day will get burn out. Similarly, no virus pandemic will keep raging infinitely and one day it will burn itself out. This must be a pre-requisite condition - whereby the current Delta wave reach its peak, do a downward slide and stabilise at a low base and plateau - before hospitals can resume normalcy and patients with other medical conditions can get treatment like the pre-pandemic state.

CNA (23Oct2021) As restrictions are eased and activities resume, more people will also be infected with COVID-19 and then recover from it, he added.

“And in that process, it adds further immunity to our population. So the resistance against the virus increases progressively, at some point, infection numbers will not go up anymore.

“It plateaus and then it starts to come down. And that is why we say no transmission wave will last forever because it is against nature,” Mr Ong said. 

170.I post in REACH (20Oct2021)

2. During this heightened period where Delta run amok - the prudent measures are to :-

a. Tighten restriction measures - which we have already done and should hold on to it until it do a downward trajectory.

b. Ramp up vaccination rate among the unvaccinated.

c. Give booster shot to those where anti-bodies wane.

CNA (23Oct2021) Vaccination and booster programmes will be key in building up Singapore’s resistance to the virus, said Mr Ong. 

171.I post in REACH (5Nov2021) 

1. The company must view the seniors as valuable assets to the company based on his or her contribution - without  discriminating their age.

2. Their immediate supervisor who are younger than them - don't feel threaten by their knowledge and contribution - have to treat them fairly.

3. These are some unwritten underlying tension - that have been going on that make seniors to continue working difficult.

4. Company leadership play an important role - in setting the climate right in their company to ensure that managers and supervisors treat seniors fairly and periodically enforce this value.

5. Hence government interaction with company   leadership - to encourage and promote such values as their corporate culture become more and more important.

2. But most important thing is the mindset change of corporate leadership, culture and the managers/supervisors - that will have the ground impact on whether senior continuous employment face any difficulties.

3. Hence government, union and corporate tripartite working together to develop a strong corporate culture starting from the corporate leadership become all the more important.

CNA (6Nov2021) So what can companies do? Ms Linda Teo, country manager of ManpowerGroup said that on a company-level, changing mindsets towards hiring of mature employees needs to start from the top. 

If the company’s top leaders have entrenched ageist mindsets, this sentiment will pass on to the rest of the company.

172. SK in NEA REACH video conferencing (10Jul2021) propose using carbon credits to distribute plastic bags and thus limiting plastic bag to bag waste refuse at home without wastage in addition for carrier of groceries in supermarket.

CNA news (14Nov2021) Negotiators closed a deal setting rules for carbon markets at the United Nations COP26 climate talks on Saturday (Nov 13), potentially unlocking trillions of dollars for protecting forests, building renewable energy facilities and other projects to combat climate change. (SK)

173.I post in REACH (17No2021) [1:49 pm] 

1. Very happy that hawker centre and coffeeshops allow 5 same household to dine in.

2. Only concern how does hawker centre and coffeeshops check that the 5 are of the same household especially coffeeshops as there are too many and too porous.

3. Some coffeeshops say don't want to take the risk - because if customers caught not from the same household - coffeeshops need to close for 10 days because of the breach - and they will suffer greater loss.

CNA news (17No2021) [3:08 pm] Some coffee shop operators have lamented the logistical challenges in ensuring groups of up to five who dine in come from the same household.

174.I post in REACH (25Oct2021) 

2. The main reason is, we have not achieve Superhuman Immunity state - even though with high double dose vaccination.We are in fact a "Covid-Naive" state.

Superhuman Immunity are acquired by 2 ways :-

a. Superhuman Immunity = Vaccinated Immunity + Booster Immunity

(Similar to Hepatitis B = 2 jab + 1 jab booster)

--- in other words, we have not completed the full course of vaccination (as perceived by the vaccine vendors - whereby 2 jab vaccination is only good for original covid but not the Delta covid.

--- Only 2 jabs + 3rd booster shot is considered commpleted full course vaccination.

Note:- This is experience by Israel - who prescribed 3rd booster to whole population and achieve a very positive result.

The message from Israel is clear: Covid booster shots should be standard - like Hepatitis B - 2 shots + 1 booster shot. Israel demonstrate to the World that its 3 vaccination shot have defeated the Delta wave.

CNA news (20Nov2021) There is an emerging view among the global clinical and scientific communities that COVID-19 vaccination against the Delta variant is “really a three-dose vaccine, like (for) Hepatitis B”, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a COVID-19 multi-ministry task force press conference on Saturday.

175. I post in REACH [26/11/2021] 

I think government will be watching the new strain carefully and adjust the measures up and down.

CNA news (28Nov2021) Singapore is tracking the emerging Omicron COVID-19 variant 'very closely', and could be forced to take a few steps back again before taking more steps forward, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Nov 28).

176. I post in REACH [26/11/2021] 

1. Singapore government pre-emptive move to close borders with those few countries with the new strain is an appropriate move.

2. This strain display a transmissible dominant strain (similar to Delta if not worst) - as seen how fast it spread among the few countries.

3. While we wait for WHO  emergency meetings as well as more data emerging from this new strains.

4. Delta variants experience that we have learn from - certainly merit our pre-emptive move on this new strain - while we can loosen or tighten further as we have more information on this strain.

CNA News (30Nov2021) Therefore, the country is making several "pre-emptive moves" to buy time while it finds out more about the variant, said co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force Gan Kim Yong.

177.I post in REACH [01/12/2021] I always believe in Superhuman Immunity - the 2 jabs + 1 booster - which is an antidote to the coronavirus core.

CNA news (14 Dec 2021) Singapore to press on 'more urgently' with COVID-19 vaccine booster shots amid Omicron variant concerns.

178.I post in REACH [11:21 am, 24/01/2022] 

1. Daily infection rate see a very sharp U-shape upturn.

2. Weekly infection growth similarly demonstrate a very sharp U-shape upturn.

3. Hospitals number also see a more gradual U-shape curve forming.

4. To a lesser extent, serious illness, oxygen support and ICU a slight uptick.

5. Only death rate remain more stable.

Straits Times (24/01/2022 6.35 pm) Three areas to watch as Singapore battles Omicron: Ong Ye Kung. These are: the country's intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, hospitalisation rates and the impact of the highly infectious variant on the country's manpower resources.

Over the weekend, ICU numbers fell slightly from 13 to nine patients, the minister said. Although a couple of Omicron patients require intensive care, none needed to be intubated.

On hospitalisation, Mr Ong reiterated that about 1.3 per cent of Omicron cases are hospitalised, with 0.3 per cent requiring oxygen supplementation.

And those who do require additional oxygen generally do not need it for long, with the maximum so far being five days.

"The numbers have been creeping up - both the absolute numbers as well as the percentages," Mr Ong said. "Every 0.1 per cent occupies a lot more beds, as we all know."

Lastly, there is the potential impact on manpower.

179. SK CONTRIBUTION AND I POST IN REACH [21/01/2022, 10.04AM] AND ONESERVICE APPS [20/01/2022] 

 

STRAITS TIMES (JAN 21, 2022, 5:25 PM)

ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO BE ON ANTI-SMS SPOOFING REGISTRY AFTER SPATE OF SCAMS. (SK)

180.I post in REACH [12:05 pm, 26/01/2022]: 

The onslaught of Omicron wave is coming.

Expecting this sharp U-shape upturn will go on for another 2 weeks.

1. Suggest business continuity plan for individual business to be activated - WFH and WFO.

2. School continuity plan required in case large clusters form in school.

3. Ramp up ART test for working staff.

4. Ramp up vaccination effort for unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and booster shots.

CNA news (04 Feb 2022 03:57PM)

Singapore should be prepared for “surges in infections” due to the higher transmissibility of the Omicron variant, noted the advisory, adding that staff absences due to COVID-19 infections can “significantly disrupt business operations”.

“The multi-ministry task force has thus called on employers, in particular those providing essential services, to prepare and be ready to implement their business continuity plans, adhere strictly to safe management measures and encourage employees to test themselves regularly, so as to dampen transmission and minimise business disruptions.”

The advisory laid out measures that employers may wish to consider when reviewing their business continuity plans.

181.I post in REACH Sun, Feb 20 at 2:54 PM, [10:05 am, 21/02/2022]: 

ii. But other form of wealth tax eg. the Inheritance tax, tax on capital investment such as interest income, dividend, insurance income etc ---- in which the wealthy rely on using their passive income to accumulate their wealth --- will turn off the wealthy to put their money overseas and lead to capital outflow away from our Economy.

Because this will be seen as a "Win-Lose" outcome for the wealthy.

In addition, the wealthy can invest their passive income in overseas Countries that do not levy such taxes - and hence make Singapore less competitive as a financial hub.

Important to note that, recently many wealthy setup home-office in Singapore and transfer big funds into Singapore to help them to accumulate wealth - and as a result benefit Singapore greatly with S$4.7 trillion (US$3.5 trillion) assets under management.

We may trigger the outflow of these assets if we levy the above wealth tax - as such passive income can be invested overseas without such wealth tax.

Our past experience reveals that we collected a meagre sum $153.7 million of estate tax in 2007, the year before it was abolished.

Clearly the wealthy have moved their funds elsewhere - and I can't see how this will help to expand our financial hub and grow our financial sector when wealthy park and invest their passive funds elsewhere - while we collect a meagre sum of estate duty and other passive income wealth tax.

CNBC PUBLISHED MON, FEB 21 2022 2:33 AM EST 

Singapore, a wealth management hub, is looking at a broad range of wealth taxes "very closely," Minister Lawrence Wong said. They include taxes on capital gains, dividends and a net wealth tax on individuals.

"But the challenge with these sorts of wealth taxes is that wealth and financial flows are highly mobile. And if we were to move but other jurisdictions do not have similar taxes, it is very easy for wealth to move away from Singapore to another location," Wong told CNBC's Martin Soong.

CNA news (23 Feb 2022 06:02AM)    In his Budget speech, Mr Wong had announced that Singapore would raise the personal income tax rate for top-tier earners, alongside adjustments to property taxes and an additional levy on luxury cars.

But Mr Wong said on Tuesday that "there is a limit" to this, in response to a question by host Diana Ser on whether taxing the wealthy could backfire and make them leave Singapore.

"I think with the moves that we have made, we should be all right because we have assessed it very carefully and we have calibrated the measures," Mr Wong said.

"If we start to have the attitude that most of the tax burden or everything can be borne by the top one per cent or the top five per cent, I think they will feel it grossly unfair and very soon you won't have the rich to tax in Singapore."

Calibrating these measures and finding a balance is necessary, he said.

"That's why I mentioned that when we talk about a progressive system, it doesn't mean that the tax burden is borne only by a small group of people. It means that everyone contributes their fair share, but those with greater means contribute more."                     

182. I post in REACH [12:54 pm, 16/02/2022]:

Sometimes it may seem like from Russia.

But it may not be - depending on the sophistication of the attack.

To do a scam successfully, the hacker must know the local context very well - before Singaporean can be trick successfully.

It could be a local hacker or an expatriate in Singapore, with good knowledge of the local context, doing the scam.

Eg. It will hack a poorly protected client or server in Russia.

Setup a SSH or VPN connection to encrypt and provide a secure tunnel that hide its identity. After hacking, remove all audit trail, security logs and access logs.

Then from the comprised Russia server or client to phish a Singapore user.

When the police check, it will only trace that the hacking come from Russia.

Thus can't tell whether the hackers originate from local or Russia.

Strait Times PUBLISHED FEB 20, 2022, 10:18 PM SGT 13 people arrested over OCBC phishing scams; 7 have been charged in Singapore.

183.I post in REACH Sun, Feb 20 at 2:54 PM, [10:05 am, 21/02/2022]: 

Topic 2 -  Society and Community | 社会与社区

1. a. With runaway supply side inflation (trigger by covid pandemic) - such as global manufacturing lockdown, labour lockdown, global supply chain disruption, energy price spike due to oil drilling, production disruption, global climate, flood, drought that disrupt crop production etc.

b. With demand side inflation - due to impending GST hike, and food stalls, business raising their prices for food, goods and services that price in both supply side and demand side inflation :-

i. Government provision of Budget 2022 $6 billion Assurance fund - can help to cushion the price hike or inflation for a few years.

ii. However the concern is, what will happen after that especially for :-

a. retirees (without income) - that will deplete their savings as prices that have go up will not come down - even though the impact of global supply side inflation may subside after pandemic taper off. Eg. are food prices.

b.low income and middle income group - whereby salary increment may not be able to catch up with the inflation.

CNA news (23 Feb 2022 06:02AM) "We are already doing everything we can, putting in place comprehensive help to support families, including those in the middle income," replied Minister Lawrence Wong.

This includes the S$560m Household Support Package, GST vouchers and enhanced Assurance Package, he said, noting that these measures together represent a "considerable amount of help", including for utility bills.

"The question is what happens beyond this year or next year when carbon prices were to rise. We understand those concerns too. In fact, the rise in carbon prices, as I explained in the Budget, will filter down to electricity price, but not by a very much amount," Mr Wong said.

"I mean, we anticipated that. But when that time happens, we will look at additional utility vouchers to help households cope with the increase in their utility bills due to the rise in carbon tax."

184. I post in REACH Sun, Feb 20 at 2:54 PM, [10:05 am, 21/02/2022]: 

Topic 1 - Economy and Workforce | 经济与劳动力

1. Disruptive tech will make current business obsolete and irrelevant. At the same time, it will continuously disrupt and make the the skillsets of our workforce irrelevant.

2. How will the Government and Business "institutionalise" training and learning for our adult workforce to keep their skillset relevant to the Business and continue to earn income to sustain themselves and their family members. (This is our workforce constant worry - to ensure that they have relevant skills to the business and can keep themselves employed until retirement).

3. How to ensure our business continue to stay ahead of the disruptive tech, reform or restructure themselves to stay relevant, survive and thrive - make profit and provide employment to our workforce.

Speech by Minister Chan Chun Sing at STL-SCEU Learning Festival at Toll City on 22 February 2022, 9:20am

Published Date: 22 February 2022 02:50 PM I see our frontier companies as part of our wider education and training ecosystem. The polytechnics, ITE and the Autonomous Universities cannot do this alone. We need the companies' partnership to make sure that we have cutting edge training in our curriculum, and enable adult learners to keep learning.

The fifth prong is we need to improve our andragogy and scale up our abilities to use new training approaches suited for adult learners. This is so that everyone not only has the skills that they need for their current job, but also extra skills that will them to transit to the next job that they might do.

I spoke today on five key points:

Importance of career guidance, so that students discover their strengths and interests

Currency of the curriculum, to shorten the lead time for emerging skills to find their way to students and internships and industry exposure, as the workplace is an extension of the classroom

Continuous learning through work

IHLs as partners in workplace learning and transformation

Making learning accessible for adult learners

There is a larger purpose behind all that we are doing. The ultimate goal of what we want to see in our continuous learning journey, is not just economic gains, but personal growth that gives our people a sense of accomplishment, fulfilment, and contribution.

185. SK post in REACH [5:47 pm, 02/03/2022] -

My close friend comments:-

1. Then there will be no restraints on healthcare demands.

2. Better to go on prevention better than cure approach. Health promotion board has to do more.

3. Greater automony for pharmacists to treat mild conditions. 

One healthcare computerised system to enter info so that records are kept.

CNA news (11 Mar 2022 07:08PM) 'Preventive health is the cheapest medicine'. GPs welcome move to get people to enrol with family doctor (SK)

186. SK post in REACH [1:37 pm, 28/07/2021]: 

My close friend comments:-

Babies are not born with equal talents.

While I personally belief that the role of parents is to guide them along a path which we parents believe in, we should not deprive them the joy of learning. 

School grades are not the only measure of learning. 

When the system sucked up all their time and they don't derive joy from their studies that's where I see children becoming quiet, dull, angry etc. 

When all frustrations fused together to become mental problems, and parents, schools and MOE step in to support, I think it's late, if not too late.

How to make learning joyous and meaningful to children to me should be a key objective. 

It's very difficult because this is where every child is different.

CNA youtube Preserving joy of learning key to ensure students prepared to face future challenges: Chan Chun Sing 1,166 views Mar 10, 2022.

187. SK post in REACH [6:20 pm, 10/04/2020]:

My close friend contribution :-

China's efforts to turnaround their covid situation is highly commendable. One thing that it did differently was the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine across the country. It has statistics to support the combined formulation is more effective in treat ing mild cases, reducing mild cases from developing into more serious cases etc.

Question : Has singapore gov consider China's treatment approach?

There was a survey circulating around to gather Singaporeans willingness on the use of tcm for covid 19. Question: is moh aware of this?

While I personally have benefited from tcm and am open to the use of tcm for treatment of covid, I have concerns if this initiative is taken without a holistic approach. If we have covid infected persons separately seeking tcm treatments, will we be missing out on cases and allow them to move around within the community and spread? Hope gov can address or embrace  this in its containment strategy.

AsiaOne APRIL 04, 2022 PUBLISHED AT 10:59 AM

WHO panel sees potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine in Covid-19 treatment (SK).

188. I post to SK (7Apr2022, 10.46pm) and in REACH [2:04pm, 8/04/2020]:

Some issues outside this topic - but important enough to bring it up:-

With airlines now back to flying, airlines all over the world should ensure its airworthiness.

Straits Times [2:04pm, 8/04/2020]:National aviation safety plan to tackle risks that may have arisen from pandemic.

189. SK post in REACH [1:37 pm, 28/07/2021]: 

My close friend comments:-

1. Then there will be no restraints on healthcare demands.

2. Better to go on prevention better than cure approach. Health promotion board has to do more.

3. Greater automony for pharmacists to treat mild conditions. 

One healthcare computerised system to enter info so that records are kept.

REACH (11Apr2022) Topic :- What are your views on the Government’s shift from the traditional focus on illness-based hospital care to patient-centred preventive care? How can we encourage others to adopt a healthier lifestyle as a form of preventive care?

190. I post in REACH [1:59 pm, 27/05/2022]:

c. Sell excess chicken to overseas market like Singapore at a good price - as Singapore $ is stronger and can cushion the higher chicken price in Malaysia - and hence earning a profit and cushion against higher production cost in Malaysia.

In fact, Malaysia chicken suppliers should ramp up more chicken stock to sell to Singapore - because the more chicken it can sell to Singapore, the higher profit they will get to sustain their business.

Export ban is a wrong move in the opposite direction - that will worsen their woes rather than resolving their problem.

d. Lift the price control of chicken price by allowing chicken suppliers to sell at cost plus a small profit - to ensure chicken suppliers raise their chicken output. As supply grows, exceeding demand - chicken prices will make correction by itself without reaping the worst effect of price control - that is bad in economic term - by infringing the concept of market demand and supply.

e. Use the Government funds set aside for subsidy - to give as a relief vouchers to Malaysia household to cushion the higher price by lifting the price control - without artificially skewing the chicken market. In so doing, Malaysia economy will not be damage by the export ban.

[2:47 pm, 27/05/2022] +RH: Eh,  Danny,  u wanna hop over & act as advisor to the M'sian monetary authority or their Finance Minister? 

Looks like their Finance minister has not got good financial or economic advisors,  Huh?  

Lol....  🤣🤣🤣

[2:47 pm, 27/05/2022] +RH: It wud be just a matter of time b4 they realise the folly of their ways. 

By then,  depending on when,  it may be too little too late. 

Hope they dun end up like Sri Lanka.!

[2:49 pm, 27/05/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Hahaha.

Just post the comments in an open blog and they will see.

Hopefully they reverse their export ban - and will be good for everyone.

Straits Times (2Jun2022)

Malaysia to end price caps for chicken by July, will give cash aid to poor instead.

Malaysia will end price controls for chicken and eggs by July and leave their prices to be determined by market forces, a move that is expected to boost supply and likely lead to its export ban on poultry being lifted.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi told The Straits Times on Thursday (June 2) that this measure was in line with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's announcement that chicken subsidies would be redirected from farmers to the public, especially lower-income households representing the country's bottom 40 per cent of earners.

191. I post in REACH [3:01 pm, 30/05/2022] :

i. We need to put more resources to produce :-

- cell culture, tissue re-engineering meat - by extracting healthy cells from chicken, duck, fish, prawns, albalone, squid, beef, mutton, pork etc - and then we culture and grow them into edible meat.

Then we will have steak, chicken chop, mutton chop, pork chop, seafood to eat ---- in the event that if rice, wheat etc are ban --- to survive --- we won't go hungry.

These type of meat substitute are similar to real meats - except it need not need to rely on animal feed to grow, it is healthy as bad fat are removed, and cells can grow and multiplied.

There will be no risk of short supply in such meat - due to poor harvest in crops for animal feeds, animal diseases that need to cull animals, setting aside lands to let animal graze lands or lands to grow animal feeds.

We can not only produce sufficient supply for local population, but can also mass produce for export market - and grow our GDP.

Most important - we ensure our meat self sufficiency - oblivious of meat shortage due to weather, diseases or war or overfishing.

- 3D printed meat, plant-based meat - which mimic the real meat except they are make

[3:23 pm, 30/05/2022] : 

https://cellbasedtech.com/lab-grown-meat 

Cell can grow and multiply to form meat. of plants - which also can be mass produce.

[3:36 pm, 30/05/2022] : 

Alternatively there are insect based protein foods.

But still killing lives - unlike cell culture meat and plant based meat that doesn't kill lives.

Straits Times (10 Jun 2022)

Cell-cultured chicken is meat from chicken cells grown in a bioreactor - similar to the vats used in brewing beer - thus doing away with having to slaughter actual chickens.

Once operational in the first quarter of next year, the $61 million Bedok plant will house a 6,000-litre bioreactor - the largest one in the cultivated meat industry to date - which will produce tens of thousands of kilograms of the novel chicken each year.

Research and development in such novel foods and alternative proteins have been gaining traction in Singapore in recent years as the Republic boosts its food security and produces food sustainably.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who was at the ground-breaking event, said: "With technological advancements and growing consumer demand for sustainable foods, alternative proteins have the potential to supplement Singapore's agricultural productivity and contribute meaningfully to our 30 by 30 goal."

CNA (10 Jun 2022 04:36PM)

While the company's cultivated chicken was approved by Singapore for sale in 2020 and has been available in limited quantities, this is the first step towards commercial production.

It is now seeking regulatory approval to sell its meat in the United States and in Qatar, said Mr Tetrick. It is also looking to launch its cultivated meat product in China.

“We view Singapore as vital in our plans to build this new approach to making meat. We’ll launch new products here, distribute to other countries in Asia from here and learn from consumers here who have proven themselves to be at the cutting edge of what’s next,” said Mr Tetrick.

192. I post in REACH [2:16 pm, 20/06/2022]:

1. I will cite an examples how coffeshop prices can be tame.

2. My areas have 6 big coffeshops and many more smaller F&B shops - though there are no hawker center around.

3. The competitive landscapes help to prevent coffeshop owners from buying coffeeshop at exobitant prices - because stall owners cannot afford to pay high rent prices - and thus have to charge high food prices to consumers.

4. With so many competitors, coffeshop owners are careful not charge too high a rental so that stall owners can pay affordable rent and charge affordable food prices.

6. So for some newer estates or estate that have only 1 or 2 coffeeshops - without a competitive landscape - high coffeeshop rental and higher food price will hit the consumers.

Then hawker centre will be a price stabiliser. Else Government may have to find places to gazette more coffeeshops in that estate to tame the rent and hence the food prices.

Zaobao (21/06/2022),发布 / 2022年6月21日 12:28 PM

黄循财：确保组屋区有小贩中心和社企咖啡店 与天价咖啡店竞争

文 / 陈可扬

(Lawrence Wong: Ensure that there are hawker centers and social enterprise coffee shops in HDB areas to compete with sky-high coffee shops).

193. I post in REACH [2:49 pm, 20/06/2022]:

c. By keep targeting and milking these wealthy individual by imposing more and more wealth tax as suggested by the oppositons - will be a sure way to trigger a capital outflow - that we can ill afford.

5. Increasing GST is not a popular tax policy because it affect the entire strata of the population - but it is a sound and necessary evil - with the backdrop of running inflation.

a. The tax revenue is contributed by every population that spends - hence it is a shared responsibility to contribute to our National Finance - needed to keep our Country, Economy and Social Spendings running.

A fair tax instrument.

b. It is not unduly putting the entire burden on one small group of individual - just because they are rich.

The rich has already been paying a large share of the tax such as :-

And the most important consideration is that, this wealthy individual can transfer their wealth to other tax friendly Countries such as Australia with no inheritance tax or other hubs that have low wealth tax.

6. A better strategy is to continue with the GST tax increase as planned for 2003 and 2004 - but give higher GST tax rebate to lower, and middle income family and individuals.

7. This will ensure our diversify broadbase tax structure remain intact --- to ensure our fiscal policy are prudent, continue to finance our Country, Economy, Social spending wisely and accumulate our Sovereign Wealth - and ensure our National Finance - are intact - to prevent being depleted away by wrong financial populist policy.uals - if recession strike or inflation go too high up.

Straits Times (21Jun2022)

GST increase to proceed as planned to fund rising spending on seniors, healthcare: Lawrence Wong

Singapore cannot afford to slow down, and that includes ensuring that it has a strong and sustainable fiscal position going forward.

"That's why we have to continue with our economic reforms while doing whatever we can to help the Singaporeans who are impacted by cost of living issues, especially the lower-income and more vulnerable groups."

They will receive an additional goods and services tax (GST) Voucher - Cash Special Payment of up to $300 to be given out in August, which is on top of the regular GST Voucher - Cash of up to $400 that had earlier been announced.

This will benefit about 1.5 million lower-income to middle-income workers, as well as retirees without income.

194. I post in SCMP and in REACH (13Jun2022)

Notably, US will intensify playing of Taiwan against China (in which China is most paranoid with). Unless China can come to term and not let Taiwan issue - make China mad and start a war ---- then conflict within Asia Pacific region will be greatly reduced.

Dispute in South China Sea, East China Sea, China-India border --- is not a big issue that China is willing to wage war. China by nature treasure peace and wealth over war and conflict - except Taiwan in which China view as its historical thorn in the flest and must reunified. If China can overcome such intense desire over Taiwan - by playing long, playing calm and cool - to win over Taiwan with wits and wisdom --- then unlikely US can provoke China to start a war. Hence,  China -- need to develop a high Emotional Resilience - to wait out for a better outcome to reunify Taiwan and not let itself be provoke into a must fight war ---- and unravel the peace and prosperity that Asia Pacific has thrive on for more than 5 decades/ half a century.

After all, Taiwan is only an island - smaller than many of China provinces - and many China provinces produce higher GDP than Taiwan. So China won't go hungry without Taiwan. The only crux that make Taiwan so important for China - is because PLA fought a civil war with KMT army - due to ideology and the right to govern.

If China is able to play long, keep its cool, use creative response to Taiwan independence provocation or US provocation - without the need to be angry, mad and threat to invade --- then China can reunify Taiwan in the long run without the need to commit a troop or fire a shot. Use wisdom and wit to win a war - not with troops and bullets.

US can provoke China, because China response to provocation - and response in a predictable ways. If China play cool, play long, with wits and wisdom - instead of reacting in a predictable way - than US can't provoke China and Countries around China won't feel China as hostile. Suntze Art of War - is to make your enemy angry - and then your enemy will respond with a predictable way - when you can exploit to win the war. China is the originator of Suntze Art of War - but yet US have deploy this strategy plus strategy of encirclement by forming allies and blocs against China so effectively.

Wonder why China fall into it?

That is each time China get mad when US provoke by bringing up Taiwan issue - US will continue to do it - so as to get China to act rashly - and then all its wealth, influence, reputation and relationship with the World fall into disrepute - when China launch a war ---- result China successfully contained and fall far behind US.  Because China is willing to be "led by the nose".

Yahoo Fri, June 17, 2022, 11:59 AM

Control without invasion: Other actions China could take against Taiwan.

Here are some of the options Beijing could deploy:

- Annexation of outlying islands 

- Customs quarantine

- Blockade

- Bombing campaign 

195. I post in REACH [0:27 pm, 27/06/2022]: 

SFA will be checking and certifying chicken farm before we import from the certified farm.

Else will be a health risk to us.

That's why need some time for SFA officers to go around Indonesia farms to certify the chicken farm before they can export their live chicken to us.

Also need to solve the logistics and transportation problem - to ensure the chicken is still alive and healthy when they reach Singapore.

CNA News (30 Jun 2022 04:27PM)

SFA said a Singapore team recently visited Indonesia to audit its food safety and animal health controls.

The team visited various facilities such as farms, quarantine stations and laboratories to better understand the regulatory systems in place.

"Chickens can only be imported from sources accredited by SFA to ensure that sources have the required systems, processes and capabilities to supply chicken that can meet our food safety and animal health standards to Singapore," said the agency.

It added that individual establishments and farms would also need to be evaluated and approved, with detailed documentary evaluations and on-site audits for verification.

"The consignments would also be subjected to SFA’s inspection, sampling and testing upon import. This ensures the continuity of SFA’s source diversification strategy without compromising food safety," said the agency.

196. I post in REACH [1:36 pm, 17/06/2022]:

4. Hence in the short and medium term - low growth and recession is a possibility.

We should try to shoot to avert recession and aim for lower growth - if the World recession hit - to protect both business and jobs.

I post in REACH [2:08 pm, 20/06/2022]: 

Hence if we can avert a recession and secure a slow growth - it will be a bonus for us.

If we can sustain a sustainable growth - then it is a feather on our cap.

Straits Times PUBLISHED JUL 4, 2022, 2:12 PM SGT

S'pore does not expect recession or stagflation next year but significant risks remain: Alvin Tan.

197. SK post in REACH [2:13 pm, 24/06/2022]: 

My close friend comments:-

I think sg fundamental models still there and correct but needs some checks and controls. 

The current inflation is driven by shortages (whether due to climate change, supply chain fractures, raw material sanctions) are largely outside of sg control. 

But price hikes due to rental jump to me exploitation of situation.

For humble Singaporeans who need to get by, we can turn to market stalls, hdb shops etc.

I don't know how much of these spaces rental can still be controlled by gov. 

Selling coffee shop at a dizzily high price of $40M just forcing stall holders to pass their rental costs to lay person who are already coping with other rising costs.

Straits Times PUBLISHED JUL 5, 2022, 11:24 PM SGT:

HDB will review policies for coffee shop food affordability if necessary: Desmond Lee

198. I post in REACH [4:41 pm, 22/07/2022]: 

1. To be honest, myself, my brother and sister come from the so call "elitist" schools - RI and RGS.

2. But all our kids, we put them in neighbourhood schools.

3. Incidentally, we all end up in local Universities - supposedly to be the elite Uni.

4. Whether we are in "elite" which my siblings and myself don't feel we are or our kids in neighbouring schools don't feel they are lesser off - because they graduate in the same local Universities.

5. Ultimately it is how we interact with people and accord the mutual respect with people around us - regardless of education level, job status, income level or household types.

Straits Times 23Jul2022:

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat shared three suggestions with Raffles Institution (RI) students on Saturday (July 23) on what makes a good school to help better prepare them for an increasingly challenging world.

He told students not to get pigeonholed by their grades or use their grades as their primary measure of success. "In the workplace, one is assessed based on how you perform, and not what your academic grades were. RI has put in place a diversity, inclusivity, and community engagement, or Dice, framework, to step up your values-driven education. Much of this holistic learning takes place outside the classroom," he said.

Second, Mr Heng said that diversity must be at the core of what a "good" RI experience is.

Through the years, RI has produced many generations of thinkers, leaders and pioneers who contributed to building Singapore.

Sounds like directly responding to our REACH posting track ---- on elite schools - and I mention RI and RGS.

Wow.................          

199. I post in REACH [12:18 pm, 25/07/2022]: 

1. Since vaccination are in short supply, vaccination against monkeypox should be focused on this group of people - rather than adopting mass vaccination for the whole Singapore population.

CNA news 25 Jul 2022 05:11PM (Updated: 25 Jul 2022 06:02PM)

Monkeypox: MOH reaching out to ‘at-risk population’, including those engaging in high-risk sexual activities.

The Ministry of Health says it is reaching out to at-risk groups through healthcare and community partners as part of efforts to reduce the spread of monkeypox.

200. I post in REACH [2:07 pm, 27/07/2022]: 

6. As for whether should 377A be repealed, I will like to suggest the following :-

a. Until the Government provide more clarity and guarantee the Man-Woman marriage and union - through the enacting of laws and policies to protect Man-Woman marriage - before we start to consider the next step.

CNA news 30 Jul 2022 06:30PM (Updated: 30 Jul 2022 07:34PM)

Views on 377A: Government looking at how to safeguard current legal position on marriage, says Shanmugam.

The Singapore Government is looking at how it can safeguard the current legal position on marriage against challenges in the courts, while it considers the next steps for Section 377A of the Penal Code, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Saturday (Jul 30).

201.I post in REACH [1:44 pm, 27/07/2022]: 

3. Hence the townhall discussion on ensuring and guarantee Man-Woman marriage and union to be enshrined in our Constitution the order of Nature - do carry a very strong valid point for the Government consideration.

4. Ultimately, Singapore is a small country with a small population - about 5.65 million people - and our birth rate are declining year after year below replacement rate to carry and run our Economy and the Country - such as producing workforce, National Service to protect our Nation, to look after aging parents etc.

[2:07 pm, 27/07/2022]: 

6. As for whether should 377A be repealed, I will like to suggest the following :-

a. Until the Government provide more clarity and guarantee the Man-Woman marriage and union - through the enacting of laws and policies to protect Man-Woman marriage - before we start to consider the next step.

Hence protecting the traditional Man-Woman marriage to produce offsprings - must be encourage and never be compromised - in considering the Order of Nature, raising a healthy family of Grand Parents, Parents, Children and Grand Children, to contribute as Workforce, National Service to protect our Nation, managing our Economy and run our Country.

CNA news 21 Aug 2022 09:01PM (Updated: 21 Aug 2022 09:08PM)

Singapore will repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 21), revoking a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men.

The Government will also amend the Constitution to protect the definition of marriage – currently recognised by law as taking place between one man and one woman – from being challenged constitutionally in the courts, Mr Lee said.

The Government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage or national policies on public housing, education, adoption rules, advertising standards and film classification, he said, signalling that it will maintain “prevailing norms and values” of Singapore society.

202. I post in REACH [1:26 pm, 10/08/2022]:

Greater geopolitical tension ahead - stronger Armed Forces and Home Team

1. Geopolitical tension will worsen in the next coming decade and beyond - it will not be better off.

3. As tension and strain among Countries will rise and becoming more acute - the phenomenon of 小三灾 (the 3 minor catastrophe) - that will have adverse implication on humanity ---- a strong Armed Forces and Home Team - must be our never shaking foundation - to safeguard our Homeland and ensure our survival.

4. Hence we must never has the notion to tamper and soften our commitment to National Service and Reservist.

We must ensure our National Servicemen are well trained and able to execute complex combat mission and exploit cutting edge military technologies to protect our Country.

The 1st and 2nd segment of military display and execution other than just parade - demonstrate that every facet of our Armed Forces - whether Air, Sea, Land, Anti-terroism, Home Team --- show that we have been exploiting cutting edge military technologies - whether we develop ourselves through R&D, locally produced or acquired from foreign Countries --- with precision, speed and effectiveness.

This demonstrate how well trained our Armed Forces and Home Team are --- and we must keep up our professional standard -- and ensure the years ahead --- that will be fraught with danger --- our Armed Forces and Home Team will make our Country safe.

NDR2022 21Aug2022, REACH 22Aug2022 - PM Lee :-

📌 The relationship between the US and China is worsening and Singaporeans should expect more geopolitical contestation in the Asia-Pacific

📌 There is also a need to take national service seriously, and keep the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team strong and credible

203. I post in REACH [6:30 pm, 05/09/2022]: 

b. With many Countries liberalising drugs and getting drug legalised for medical and recreational drugs --- there is a real danger that business will lace food, tibidts and drinks with drugs - and tourists like us may unknowingly consume the drugs while taking tibidts, foods and drings lace with drugs.

Hence, I urge the Government to relook at how to tackle such drug consumption problem - whereby Singaporeans and residents are against drug consumption - but fall into the trap unknowingly through laced food, tibidts and drinks.

If urine test or hair test - detected Singaporeans and residents have drug consumption - a thorough and foolproof lie detectors or interrogation technique - need to ascertain the drug consumers are indeed fool by laced food or drinks - and not knowingly consume drugs for addiction or self gratification.

Under this categories, help should be granted to ensure the person is not addicted and monitor to ensure addiction will not kicks in.

Punishment or penalty should be waived for this category of people.

Straits Times PUBLISHED SEP 12, 2022, 9:55 PM SGT

Unknowingly consuming drugs overseas usually not an offence: Shanmugam.

Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis on June 9.

It is now commonly sold and found in many products and foods there, including tom yum soup, which is popular with many Singaporeans.

Mr Shanmugam had previously said that the legalisation of the drug there has presented challenges for Singapore and its drug-free stance.

On Monday, he said CNB has been partnering with various stakeholders, such as educational institutions and national service institutions, to create awareness of the harms of cannabis among students and full-time national servicemen through preventive drug education programmes such as talks, skits and exhibitions, videos and informational toolkits.

"Further, CNB is working towards engaging travellers at physical touch points, such as the checkpoints, to caution them against the purchase of such items overseas," he said.

"We urge persons travelling to countries where food, beverage and other products containing controlled drugs may be sold, to be careful and check if a product contains controlled drugs. If in doubt, do not purchase or consume the product."

204. I post in REACH [2:59 pm, 26/09/2022]: 

3. But prices in the mature estates - will still need to be tackle - as the prices of these BTO flats in the mature estate are at a ridiculous price.

Eg. the recent new BTO flats in Ang Mo Kio is price at :-

4-room flat $535,000 to $676,000

5-room flat $720,000 to $877,000

Jalan Besar 3-room flat is price at close to $500,000

Comparatively, suburban flats are :-

$245,000 to $317,000 (3-room)

$374,000 to $460,000 (4-room)

$493,000 to $581,000 (5-room)

Wonder how do the young couples afford?

The majority and the future is for the young couples.

The young people will lead the Country to the next generation, the next lap.

Now the demand of new BTO flats are for young couples who intend to get married, to raise kids and start a family.

So if the whole focus of the housing policy if not concentrate on these young couples - what is?

Pushing young couples further and further to the fringe, far far away to the suburbs due to house pricing is not a good strategy - as the young people are our future in building up the country.

Thus government housing strategy is how to build affordable houses in mature estates to bring the young couples back into our mature estates.

Not pushing them away - by market forces or affordability.

In ensuring social compactness - this is the right way to do.

CNA 30 Sep 2022 01:29PM (Updated: 30 Sep 2022 04:31PM)

MAKING IT EASIER FOR FIRST-TIMERS, YOUNG COUPLES

But the 15-month wait-out period is likely to be the most significant measure introduced, as this will "tame demand and prices for the upper tier of the HDB resale market" and make it easier for first-timers to purchase homes, said Christine Sun, senior vice president of research and analytics at OrangeTee & Tie. 

"Demand for these larger flats and million-dollar flats could be largely bought by private homeowners or downgraders who can afford to pay high prices for these flats, thus driving up their prices which will affect the overall price index for all resale flats," she explained. 

As such, "this (15-month wait-out period) may cool the market for a while and slow down the pace of price increase for these bigger flats to a certain extent and allow younger couples a better chance of securing these units with lesser competition," she added.

"Overall price growth may moderate which will also help first-timers to have a better chance of buying resale flats if they cannot wait for the long completion period for some BTO flats." 

205. SK post in REACH [2:01 pm, 11/04/2022]: 

1. My close friend suggestion to relook at healthcare reform to bring down the Nation healthcare spendings (and thus reduce the increasing yeatly fiscal budget) - is the right key that will help to arrest the ever escalating healthcare cost :-

Preventive care is a pre-emptive approach to prevent, detect any problem to our health before it happen or become serious - and nip the health problem at its bud.

It will be less costly as early treatment can prevent any problem that manifest into a bigger health problem at a greater healthcare cost - to both the people and the State which offer subsidised co-payment.

2. My close friend suggestion to allow greater autonomy for family physician (or pharmicists) to treat mild conditions - also resonate with the new Government 1st  core component strategy of "1. Mobilisation of our network of family physicians" - of providing care-delivery with a team-based approach at the regional level close to the people residing in the neighborhood.

3. Finally all the rest of the Government 5 core components in preventive healthcare - make alot of sense to prevent serious illness from manifesting ---- which in the long run - the aggregating outcome of hospital needs will be greatly reduced - as many serious illness can be prevented and tackle early before it become serious ---- which thus will prevent our Nation healthcare cost from ballooning year after year as our population ages.

Yahoo News Fri, October 7, 2022, 10:35 PM

After a two-day debate, Parliament on Wednesday endorsed the White Paper on the national preventive healthcare programme.

Under the programme, residents can enjoy free health screenings and nationally recommended vaccinations, use MediSave to fully pay for the treatment of chronic illnesses as well as earn "health points" on the Healthy 365 mobile app. They are also encouraged to enrol with their primary doctor.

"It's a big change for MOH. As I always say, we are called the Ministry of Health but the truth is we've been operating like the Ministry of Sickness: we run hospitals, polyclinics; we are about drugs and approving medications," said Ong.

Healthier SG marks the first time that authorities have introduced a national system to support healthier lifestyles, he added.

206. I post in REACH [1:32 pm, 18/05/2022]: 

3. However, my family members, extended families and my close friends - are of the opinion that "putting mask on" when we go outside - will be essential and our "last line of defence" --- despite the fact that almost everyone are protected by full vaccination with booster.

We don't want to have a case whereby one of them got infected with covid - and the rest have to quarantine at home.

4. In fact, whether indoor or outdoor, as long as I step out of my home - I put my mask on - including doing jogging or brisk walk for 5 km - I will still put on my mask - and will not change my routine.

5. My close friend comments :-

Version 4 and 5 (of Omicron variants) are here. What's the hurry to remove masks? 🤔

My response: Exactly.

Not like wearing mask we will suffocate or like end of the world.

6. Our position are consistent and clear:-

From zero day until now - "Unless and until the covid pandemic is declared officially over (either the covid is subdue and not life threatening or effectively block" - by WHO &/or by our Government" - our position is still put on the mask when in public - as our "last line of defence".

CNA news 15 Oct 2022 01:05PM (Updated: 15 Oct 2022 01:18PM)

Singapore does not rule out reimposing mask mandate, closely monitoring XBB wave: Ong Ye Kung.

Straits Times (15 Oct 2022)

But bringing back stricter mask mandates or other safe management measures cannot be ruled out, he added.

"Maybe we put back our masks, say indoors, or indoors and outdoors, if the situation requires it... We may have to step up VDS to an appropriate level in order to protect those who are not up to date with their vaccinations," said Mr Ong.

207. I post in REACH [3:41 pm, 21/11/2022]: 

That's why, both NAC and the buskers should sit down and talk.

1. Address safety.

2. Address busking income.

--- come out with a win win solutions - acceptable to both parties addressing the 2 concerns.

CNA news 22 Nov 2022 10:48AM (Updated: 22 Nov 2022 10:49AM)

Authorities look to engage with buskers following restrictions on year-end performances. “If you would like to share your views on this matter, please let us know,” the email read.

208. I post in REACH [12:53 pm, 09/11/2022]: 

a. WIll WP stop charging town council charge - and use its reserve investment to fund the town council charges? This is a challenge I throw to WP. 

If WP feel so strongly about using more reserve (NIRC) and proceed from land sales - then WP should do what they say :-

i. Use your interest, dividend income earn through the WP saving and reserves from the town council fund to pay the town council running expenses - eg. pay workers salary, cleaners salary, estate maintenance ---- then I will believe what you say in Parliament is financially sound.

If WP is unable to demonstrate in managing the town council estate using such financial approach --- then how to convince the population that what WP proposal of using more reserves and land sales proceed --- are the right way to finance the government running cost instead of GST hike?

WP by suggesting to use 60% NIRC - is akin to doing so - and this don't make financial sense.

In fact WP is suggesting a dangerous move - that will deplete our generation of hardwork to accumulate our reserve overtime --- and our descendants will suffer.

Even 金山银山 (gold mountain, silver mountain) - will be gone in no time - if WP harp on using our financial reserves and land sales reserves - to spend on yearly recurring expenses.

Because earning and accumulating reserves is very hard and our reserves and land are limited - spenindg them like what WP suggest is very easy and soon will be gone in no time.

We must jealously guard our reserves - and be hawk eyes about politicians who keep harping on spending our reserves.

Singapore is a small Country with no natural resources.

Human resources and financial reserves - are our only resources - and we must guard against politicians spending our reserves away unprudently - not based on sound financial principles.

Straits Times PUBLISHED NOV 22, 2022, 10:54 PM SGT

WP believes that higher government expenditures can be met without unpopular moves such as raising the GST by taking more from the reserves, never mind that this will leave future generations of Singaporeans with less money and a weakened financial position, he said.

“There isn’t a spending proposal that WP didn’t like – only asking for more of it; and there isn’t a funding proposal that WP didn’t oppose – only proposing we raid the reserves instead,” Mr Chee wrote on Petir.sg, the PAP’s sociopolitical website.

In place of a hike, they proposed raising the proportion of the Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC) that can be spent in the Budget each year to 60 per cent, up from the current 50 per cent. They also suggested using proceeds from land sales to fund current expenditure.

“If earlier generations of Singaporeans had done what WP proposed and spent more of our reserves and investment returns in previous years, we will have less reserves and NIRC today,” he added.

Had earlier Governments embarked on this path, Singapore would be facing an even greater GST increase to 11 per cent or 13 per cent to fund its current and future spending needs, he said.

He said the PAP government prefers to maintain the 50:50 ratio between spending investment returns from NIRC and saving the rest, as this strikes a fair and necessary balance between the needs of today and tomorrow, and current and future generations.

209. I post in REACH [2:59 pm, 21/11/2022]: 

Busker incomes

1. Next buskers' income come into mind.

2. Some buskers are doing full-time busking - and rely on busking during festive period to earn a few month income.

3. While some buskers are doing part-time busking - to supplement their full-time jobs or students doing busking to earn some pocket money.

4. Honestly, unless there is a big open field at Orchard road - carve out into modular spaces for buskers to perform - rather than allowing them to do busking on busy pedestrian path and block crowd movement that could cause stampede or spill onto the roads - there are no other  ways to allow busking during festive seasons.

5. Wonder is there a big field space at Orchard road - that allow to do busking performance safely except Isatana?

CNA news 29 Nov 2022 08:54PM (Updated: 29 Nov 2022 09:48PM)

Busking restrictions eased at 4 sites along Orchard Road during festive period.

But following engagements with the performers and the National Arts Council (NAC), the police said busking will now be allowed at four of those sites: The Heeren, 313@Somerset, Knightsbridge, and Mandarin Gallery, except on Christmas Eve, where buskers are only allowed to perform until 7pm.

210. I post in REACH [1:57 pm, 21/11/2022]: 

2. A technology that is particularly useful - to accurately map population number and densities to floor areas - are RF signals that are log to the Telco base stations.

I recall during covid time - an apps "SpaceOut" used the above technique to monitor and map out the crowd density to floor spaces in shopping areas, even in forested areas like parks --- to help to inform public and authorities the crowd densities per monitored areas.

I feel that similar "SpaceOut" apps - can be used to monitor crowd buildup in Orchard road during festive seasons - and broadcast in mainstream news, social media and other sources --- to inform people not to go to Orchard if signs of overcrowding occur.

MRT, - which is the major conduit of transporting people to Orchard road - should also prevent boarding to Orchard road -if "SpaceOut" discovered overcrowding.

Because as more people crowd the Orchard areas, telco base station syslog or access logs - will have an overwhelming RF handshake and record entries from the smartphones - accurately indicating the numbler of people in the areas - and the road densities will not be able to accomodate.

 

Strait Times (21 Dec 2022) A digital map that shows congestion levels in real time will be accessible on Dec 24, to help last-minute shoppers and revellers in Orchard Road navigate and avoid crowded areas.

The digital map (https://go.gov.sg/crowd-at-orchard-road) highlights areas in town that are packed with people, and suggests alternative places that are less crowded.

The portal will be available on Dec 24, from 6pm to 1.30am.

 

211. I post in REACH [10:44 am, 12/12/2022]: 

Voicing my children needs on BTO.

6. Waiting time for the BTO flat should not be too long - preferably less than 2 or 3 years upon application.

CNA news 06 Feb 2023 07:34PM (Updated: 06 Feb 2023 07:34PM)

Minister Desomnd Lee said that from 2024, HDB intends to launch more flats with shorter waiting times of under three years. The agency will also review how to better allocate flat supply to meet the most urgent needs.

212. I post in REACH [2:05 pm, 01/02/2023]: 

C - (C)ash with no financial worries

1. Elderly must have sufficient cash for retirement, debt free, and no financial worries.

2. Cash for retirement can come from various sources :-

a. Savings from past employment, business or investment.

b. CPF retirement eg. CPF Life, Medisave etc.

c. Monetising houses (eg. HDB flat - VERS, condo, landed properties) - to supplement the above if insufficient from a. and b.

I post in REACH [1:46 pm, 18/01/2023]: 

I will like to add on to my close friend comments :-

1. Relying on CPF contribution from working salary and business to contribute to our retirement - is 1 tap.

But as articulated by my close friend - CPF savings have been expanded to be used to serve a number of causes - not only retirement such as housing, medical etc.

Hence retirement sum from the CPF to fund our retirement is hard press - and could be insufficient - if we take into account the current inflation of more than 5%.

2. Hence I feel that another tap need to be found - to supplement the CPF retirement sum.

The answer could be in SERs or VERs in which 90% of the population dwell in and many old flats are facing lease decay -- and for private house owners - enbloc.

If the Government is able to run a successful monetisation of SERs and VERs as I illustrated in the previous forum - that look feasible without the need for Government to do capital injection - then retirement needs for the entire population will be within reach ---- without the Government stress up to do "Capital Injection" to fund the minimum retirement sum - for those unable to meet the basic retirement sum.

CNA News 07 Feb 2023 08:59PM (Updated: 07 Feb 2023 08:59PM)

Senior MOS MND Sim Ann thanked Assoc Prof Lim, saying that he’s made the point for her that when flats reach the tail end of their leases, at about 20 years or 30 years left, the units would be very difficult to sell.

“That is the generosity of the VERS scheme - that the Government comes in as the purchaser of last resort when no one else would actually purchase and give the flat owner the remaining value of the lease,” she said. 

Mr Lee had said that the Government will compensate residents whose flats are taken back early, and will also help them get another flat to live in. This should take place when the flats reach about 70 years of age.

He would then be able to monetise the flat by selling it later, or choose to “age in place” through renting out rooms or the Lease Buyback scheme.

The flat is thus a “good store of value” over a buyer’s lifetime although the value goes to zero after 99 years, she said.

His children may also benefit to some extent, although not his grandchildren, Ms Sim added.

“But his children and grandchildren will get Government support in turn to buy their own HDB flats and benefit from having a tangible stake that also appreciates in value,” she said.

When asked for more details on VERS by Workers' Party MPs, such as if it will apply to all precincts, Ms Sim said that MPs will need to "stay tuned" as the scheme is a work in progress.

213. I feedback in LTA roadshow (late 2022) :

LTA conduct a roadshow at my place.

I told a Malay female officer and say there is no covered walkway across the road.

Always get wet when raining.

She said use umbrella.

I say now coming to have MRT.

Covered walkway should be essential.

I told her to feedback.

Dadada.....

Now covered walkway coming my way.....

18 Feb 2023

214. I post in REACH [2:09 pm, 30/01/2023]: 

1. However, I noticed that are still some loopholes that the current SSIR and ScamShield have not addressed :-

a. WhatsApp, Telegram messages

b. Email

c. QR codes

2. I understand the above come from the "data" network and not from the "voice" network - in which both SSIR and ScamShield - can engage our Telcos to filter out the scam calls and scam messages.

3. The above scam messages source come in through the internet which are IP-based - in which a totally different set of anti-scam tools will be needed.

CNA news 24 Feb 2023 05:36PM (Updated: 24 Feb 2023 09:37PM)

If you’ve received a suspicious message – whether it’s on WhatsApp, Telegram or via SMS – you can soon check if it could be a scam.

All you have to do is to send a screenshot of it or copy its text into a WhatsApp bot – a new product by the Government’s anti-scam app ScamShield.

The bot was announced by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation initiative during the Committee of Supply debate on Friday (Feb 24). It is expected to be launched later this year.

215. I post in REACH [1:50 pm, 30/01/2023]: 

3. (R)eport

a. Report all scam calls or messages - through the ScamShield - so that an updated ScamShield database will help the Authority to filter out latest scam sources, provide leads to help Authority to investigate and establish identlity and sources of scammers - so that appropriate actions can be taken; train the AI model to be more and more intelligent - so that scammers will not be given any chances to reach the public.

[1:50 pm, 30/01/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

b. Public who have downloaded ScamShield (Android or ioS) - will be another very effective tools to filter out likely scam calls and scam SMS - as it is a central national database that sieve out such calls and messages.

To make the ScamShield watertight, public who still received scam calls and scam SMS should report them to the ScamShield - so that the database will be keep up to date to keep out new scam calls or messages ---- so that other public members will be protected.

I guess ScamShield are aided by AI machine learning to be able to intelligently identify likely scam calls and messages to block, filter and provide intelligent information to the anti-Scam units to conduct investigation and take actions when concrete leads are established.

CNA news 24 Feb 2023 05:36PM (Updated: 24 Feb 2023 09:37PM)

“Every report made through the ScamShield Bot or app improves the accuracy of detecting scam messages as an overall anti-scam defence system, and helps prevent scammers from reaching more potential victims,” the spokesperson added.

216. I post in REACH [1:29 pm, 08/02/2023]: 

One way to keep the price down is to :-

1. Make supply exceed demand.

Once supply exceed demand, price will go down as less buyers go after too many houses.

2. Another way is to dampen demand, whereby government implement anti-speculatory measures.

[4:43 pm, 14/02/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Microeconomics - demand and supply curve - determine prices.

If supply outgrow demand, housing prices will come down.

[4:54 pm, 14/02/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

No need to try fanciful methods to reduce housing prices.

What forgo land prices, what restrictions measures etc - will skew market forces and bring unintended economic outcomes.

Prices of housing are like any good and services - simple microeconomic principles - demand and supply determine housing prices.

It is the precise determination of what supply to fix what demand - determine the desirable price we want.

Determining how much flats and the duration of supply - to meet demand is not only a science but also an art - as we need to tamper with buyer's expectations.

The moments the government get a good grasp of these few variables - then housing price can be bring down to a level that is satisfactory to Singaporeans.

 

Straits Times (25 Feb 2023)

Adding that there are “no magic solutions” to solve the current housing issues, he said the Government’s approach is to tackle the root cause of the problem by ramping up BTO supply to catch up with the delays that had arisen during the pandemic.

217. I post in REACH [1:52 pm, 08/02/2023]: 

1. Managing and controlling the demand and supply is the correct economic principles of managing prices.

This includes managing property prices.

2. Not exclusion of land price - which not only infringe law - a house title deed, it also crash the whole property market and lead to a sesimic economic disaster and wipe out the population wealth as well as the country sovereign reserves in one big swop.

Straits Times (25 Feb 2023)

Changing the way that land is priced to lower the cost of Housing Board flats will risk destabilising the entire property market, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

He cautioned against artificially resetting the housing market in this manner.

218. I post in REACH [1:31 pm, 04/01/2023]: 

3. But food prices when go up in many of our neighbor food stalls, hawker centre and food court - will not come down - as they are inelastic.

Hopefully, the Government can campaign on roping these food stall owners to set aside 2 dishes that are around $3 to $3.50 per stall - to help lower income people to buy affordable food.

This will go a long way to help to curb food inflation - and yet allow lower income people to get their affordable food.

[1:33 pm, 13/07/2022]: 

4. Hence, my worry is that the current high food prices - will be unsustainable in the long run - and it should not be "Entrenched" as the benchmark food price going forward - when this current triple whammy of pandemic, war, global climate (triggering high energy price, supply disruption, raw material disruption) - that hit food supply tide over.

Once this price is "Entrenched" unlike energy price that will come down - this current high food price will become the default benchmark price - and residents will face long term difficulties - not only for the lower income but also middle income and even higher middle income.

5. Hence I will like to urge the Government to do a one time major exercise to bring the food prices down - once the current triple whammy of crisis tide over - such as encouraging food stall owner to join "Social Enterprise for Food" to lower their food prices to sustainable level - preferably pre-pandemic level plus GST hike of 2 percent - to ensure that they have a decent earning - but not overly exorbitant like the current price.

eg. a bowl of noodle should cost pre-pandemic $4 + GST 2% = $4.10 not $4.50.

This will ensure many lower income, retirees, middle income (who need to support many family members like their children and elderly) - will not face tremendous pressure from the high food price - which is a daily essential expenses.

CNA News 02 Mar 2023 05:01PM (Updated: 02 Mar 2023 05:01PM)

All HDB coffee shops to offer budget meal options by 2026

Budget meals at coffee shops offering them now are typically priced at around S$3 to S$3.50.

219. SK suggest in REACH [6:37 pm, 27/03/2023]: 

My close friend comments:-

High rental not sustainable. 

Many condos and flats will be completed this year. 

It will douse the rise. I randomly checked on to-be completed new condo early this year.

 1000+ units, but more than 500 put up on sale or rental. 

It may be a sample point but it does say people are not short of space. 

Plus WFH is over for most people.

[6:43 pm, 27/03/2023]: 

My close friend comments:-

Also checked the rental listings on property site around Oct last year.

 Pick on a heartland mrt 1km radius, rental listings hover around 20-40. 

Now same 1 km radius mrt, 100 rental listings. 

Landlords have to blink first or leave their property empty

[6:44 pm, 27/03/2023]: 

My close friend comments:-

Don't think we need knee jerk reaction, just need property agencies to give their fair judgement to calm the market.

Today News Updated March 28, 2023

EDB Managing Director Jacqueline Poh concluded the post by saying that 100,000 private and public homes are set to be completed by 2025, with 40 per cent of them to be completed by this year.

“This increase in supply should help relieve the pressure and moderate the cost of living.”

220. I post in REACH [1:57 pm, 27/03/2023]:

Ideally, workers could work and then retire from official retirement age.

And then younger staff move upwards to replace the retired staff.

This will make working staff happy and feel organisation take care of them - and make staff feel secure in their jobs.

But increasingly, this is no longer the case.

Come 50 years old, mature staff are make to reduce their salary.

If refused, will be force to move out.

This is now a common trend.

CNA news 28 Mar 2023 09:05PM (Updated: 29 Mar 2023 09:15AM):

“It can be unsettling and difficult to see experienced officers who have proven their reliability and worth leave the organisation,” he said. “But leadership renewal is necessary for any organisation to remain healthy and sustainable.”

In addition, the service has started extending the tenure of senior leaders to age 60, while finding other meaningful ways for retired senior leaders to contribute.

“This is how the admin service, and the public service more generally, have struck a balance between giving its officers meaningful careers, and at the same time, renewing itself and its leadership,” he said.

“If the turnover in leadership is done too quickly, we will lose good people unnecessarily. But if it is done too slowly, the organisation will become too settled, and young capable officers will not have space to grow and take on key leadership positions, as they mature in their careers.”

221.SK post in REACH [6:37 pm, 27/03/2023]: 

My close friend comments:-

High rental not sustainable. 

Many condos and flats will be completed this year. 

It will douse the rise. I randomly checked on to-be completed new condo early this year.

 1000+ units, but more than 500 put up on sale or rental. 

It may be a sample point but it does say people are not short of space. 

Plus WFH is over for most people.

CNA news (06 Apr 2023 06:00AM) (Updated: 06 Apr 2023 11:40AM)

"The main reason is probably because there are a lot of new condos that have already been completed this year, and some more big ones that are scheduled to be completed in the second half of the year," said Mr Jack Sheo, a PropNex agent.

"We are seeing a situation where tenants have more choices."

The surge in home rents appears to be slowing amid a "growing disparity" in expectations, with tenants resisting increases and landlords reluctant to lower prices in the face of rising costs.

Property agents CNA spoke to said that they are getting fewer enquiries from potential tenants for Housing Board and condominium rental listings this year. 

222.SK post in REACH [6:50 pm, 27/03/2023]: 

My close friend comments:-

To be fair, landlords who need to rely on rental will have to increase rents to fight rise in interest rates. So the rental market will find it's equilibrium.

CNA news (06 Apr 2023 06:00AM) (Updated: 06 Apr 2023 11:40AM)

PropNex agent Mr Sheo said some landlords, after seeing reports of the steep hike in rents, get "carried away" and ask for much higher rents.

"It make take some time before they realise that their unit is taking longer to move, then they start adjusting their expectations," he said.

But Ms Sun pointed out that landlords are facing increasing costs stemming from higher maintenance fees, property taxes and mortgage payments.

PropNex agent Ryan Tan echoed this, saying that some landlords are feeling squeezed by these cost increases.

He said that for one client, the monthly mortgage has exceeded the current rent, so the landlord is asking for a minimum rent of S$4,300 to cover her costs.

223.I post in REACH [5:29 pm, 27/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Maybe it is time for government to convert some old HDB flats as dorm for these foreigners at rent them at cheaper rental - to dissuade foreign business from moving out and persuade foreign workers to rent such government flats at a cheaper rate.

This will help to save local jobs.

CNA news (06 Apr 2023 06:00AM) (Updated: 06 Apr 2023 11:40AM)

But with rents having already risen substantially over the past year, tenants are now unwilling to pay more, Ms Sun said.

Some have moved to cheaper locations such as suburban areas or selected more affordable housing options like HDB flats instead of accepting higher rents. 

224.I post in REACH [6:09 pm, 12/04/2023]: 

Btw, should encourage people who are coughing and sneezing to wear mask in public.

Notice that those in public coughing and sneezing don't wear mask.

[6:51 pm, 12/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Notice 1 stall assistant, he is having a running nose, but he don't wear mask when preparing food.

2. A young man in a super market is coughing and sneezing.

He blow his nose into his tissue.

But he is not wearing mask and he look unwell.

3. Just now saw a middle age man sneezing and blowing his nose onto a grass patch - but he is not wearing mask.

The urgency to protect others from sickness is gone the moment covid endemic is declared.

CNA News 15 Apr 2023 06:34PM (Updated: 15 Apr 2023 06:37PM)

Schools may implement measures like mask-wearing if multiple students fall ill with respiratory symptoms: MOE

With Singapore in the midst of a COVID-19 wave, the Ministry of Education says student absenteeism due to flu-related illnesses “remains manageable”.

CNA News 15 Apr 2023 06:00AM (Updated: 15 Apr 2023 05:51PM

Maskless coughs and sneezes show we haven’t learnt anything from the COVID-19 pandemic

“Stay home and wear a mask if unwell”. This message has been drilled into us countless times since the COVID-19 pandemic, but yet there are countless anecdotes of people not doing so. CNA's Alison Jenner looks at whether social responsibility has taken a backseat in the endemic phase.

Every few seconds, he would snort loudly as he forcefully cleared his nasal passage. It made a wet, gurgling sound, the mucus sucked through his nostrils and sliding down the back of his throat. This was followed by a series of deep guttural coughs.

If reading this makes your stomach turn, imagine sitting next to him. The man didn’t have a mask on, nor did he cover his face when he sneezed or coughed. He just let it all out.

225.I post in REACH [4:32 pm, 21/04/2021]:

If one day someone got hack related to this Bluetooth - then someone sue, don't say this topic never discussed - but hide under.

[1:50 pm, 14/12/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:   

Definitely not turning on my bluetooth in my handphone.

But token is safe.

[6:14 pm, 14/06/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:

1. There's no financial incentives to hack a Bluetooth token as there are no sensitive user bank credentials to be stolen.

2. Apps stored in the token is encrypted. Even if hack and stolen is not useful to the hackers.

3. No financial loss to public users.

4. That's why I support the Bluetooth token.

[2:28 pm, 05/05/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:

If these Bluetooth vulnerability is not secured, malware that attack handphone with Bluetooth turn on (which is against the security best practice) - will spread like wildfire akin to covid-19 infection for all those handphone or devices with Bluetooth turn on.

[4:32 pm, 05/05/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:

Else we got to fight 3 fronts in national scale.

1. Virus

2. Economy

3. *Digital virus*

[12:22 pm, 06/05/2020] ☸️  Danny 心:

So now can understand why I so paranoid to get everything right before pushing any system to public.

Because there will be *liability to the government* if any *security breach* happen.

Straits Times UPDATED APR 19, 2023, 9:15 AM SGT

In a joint advisory posted online on Monday, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Singapore Police Force highlighted four ways such compromises could happen – when devices are inadvertently connected to rogue Wi-Fi access points, when the devices’ file-sharing functions are not secured, through Bluetooth connections, and through juice jacking.

Bluebugging is the illegal access of detectable Bluetooth connections to gain access to user devices, potentially stealing information from the device and possibly installing malware.

Users are advised to disable the Bluetooth function when it is not in use, or set their devices to the “non-discoverable” mode.

226.I post in REACH [12:34 pm, 05/04/2023]: 

6. Both my parents until now can't speak English.

But my parents have breed a vast descendants of graduates in many fields for Singapore - now all can speak and write good English and Chinese.

He also created more than 10 companies - 2 are public listed creating many jobs.

[2:14 pm, 05/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Singapore has 600,000 who are seniors many don't speak English.

They only speak mandarin, dialects, malay, tamil.

Yet they can call themselves Singaporeans and can integrate very well.

Kampong style.

[0:29 pm, 05/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. All the more, insisting their spouse to pass English test is a bit too long a stretch.

CNA news 22 Apr 2023 12:03PM (Updated: 22 Apr 2023 12:37PM)

English proficiency valued but it should not be sole criterion for new citizenship applications: Edwin Tong

The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth also noted that a "significant proportion of Singaporeans throughout our history" have not been able to speak English well.

Mr Tong noted that a “significant proportion of Singaporeans throughout our history have not been able to speak English well”.

Citing his 96-year-old grandmother as an example, he added: “If we had years ago applied this test, then someone like her may not have made it into Singapore.”

227. SK post in REACH [3:15 pm, 05/04/2023]: 

My close friend comments:-

I might have missed the point on why an English test should be part of Singapore's citizenship application process. 

I cannot appreciate this proposition. 

It sounds very micro.  I would expect Singapore leaders to have much broader perspectives, being far-sighted, and able to perform deep thinking. Surely there must be a framework of criteria for approving citizens? 

Yes?

Then it follows that, there should be a basket of considerations within the framework? 

Are there any mandatory criteria?

How is English speaking importance compared to these mandatory criteria?

[3:28 pm, 05/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

Does sg give out citizenship easily? I wonder. I would presume the applicants must have stayed in Singapore for some time, if not, quite a number of years? How did they survive or go around without knowing some English? And is that insufficient? What level of English test is the applicant supposedly required to pass? Written? Conversational? Colloquial Singlish?  Integrating into Singaporean culture, values and way of living encompasses much more! 

I agree English is very important in Singapore but debating having an English test as a pass fail/ criteria for citizenship is so narrow.

CNA news 22 Apr 2023 12:03PM (Updated: 22 Apr 2023 12:37PM)

While there is value in being proficient in English, it should not be the single criterion when deciding if someone should become a Singapore citizen, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said.

“The knowledge of English at the working level, while helpful, should not be a defining or indeed a limiting factor, which might happen if you introduce it as a test, as a single point test,” Mr Tong said during the parliamentary debate on PresiThe minister also said that an English test may not be the best marker of an applicant’s ability to integrate in Singapore.

He pointed to the country’s immigration framework, which was “tightened significantly in 2009”, that considers a broader range of factors, including family ties to Singapore, whether the applicant has studied here or has done National Service. 

These other factors would be “equally, if not perhaps in some cases, more effective” as a marker of integration. 

“The Constitution itself currently provides that one of the markers for naturalisation is working knowledge of any of the four national languages,” Mr Tong said.dent Halimah Yacob’s Address on Friday (Apr 21).

228. I post in REACH [1:33 pm, 13/07/2022]  ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. Hence, my worry is that the current high food prices - will be unsustainable in the long run - and it should not be "Entrenched" as the benchmark food price going forward - when this current triple whammy of pandemic, war, global climate (triggering high energy price, supply disruption, raw material disruption) - that hit food supply tide over.

Once this price is "Entrenched" unlike energy price that will come down - this current high food price will become the default benchmark price - and residents will face long term difficulties - not only for the lower income but also middle income and even higher middle income.

5. Hence I will like to urge the Government to do a one time major exercise to bring the food prices down - once the current triple whammy of crisis tide over - such as encouraging food stall owner to join "Social Enterprise for Food" to lower their food prices to sustainable level - preferably pre-pandemic level plus GST hike of 2 percent - to ensure that they have a decent earning - but not overly exorbitant like the current price.

eg. a bowl of noodle should cost pre-pandemic $4 + GST 2% = $4.10 not $4.50.

This will ensure many lower income, retirees, middle income (who need to support many family members like their children and elderly) - will not face tremendous pressure from the high food price - which is a daily essential expenses.

CNA news 

MND has since announced that the scheme will be expanded and all coffee shops leased from the HDB are to offer budget meals. 

In March, Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann said that from May 2023, all rental coffeeshops due for renewal will also need to provide four budget meals and two budget drinks, as a condition for renewal of their tenancy.

The price of the budget meal is proposed by the operator and reviewed by HDB to ensure they are reasonable but they typically cost around S$3 to S$3.50.

To ease the transition for operators and stallholders to offer budget meals, HDB is offering them a 5 per cent discount on the renewal rents for a period of one year.

Ms Sim has also said that while the rest of the coffee shops are run by private operators, MND has asked the major coffee shop chains to meet for discussions.

229. I post in REACH [3:07 pm, 27/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Recent BTO flats launch - the price of the flats quite reasonable.

So take the 5 room flats at $452,000 non-mature estate.

Young graduates couple only need to pay $1,977 monthly instalments including interest for 20 years housing loan with CPF.

I think a reasonable sum.

Kudos to our MND Minister and MOS for solving our BTO flats pricing problems for our younger generations.

Young graduates CPF can pay monthly housing loans without the need to fork out cash - as long as both young graduates are working.

Not a big financial burden.

[3:17 pm, 27/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

2 university graduates assume $5,000 each will have at least $2,000 in CPF ordinary account.

So no cash payout.

As for my case, 20 years housing loan from CPF - I can pay out in full - without paying a single cent in cash.

So doable.

CNA news 01 May 2023 10:54AM (Updated: 01 May 2023 11:46AM)

BTO flats remain affordable, prices have risen in tandem with incomes: DPM Wong

This comparison also does not include housing grants of up to S$80,000 for first-time buyers, he added. 

"So if you do a proper comparison, a fair comparison, BTO flats remain affordable," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

"The vast majority of our first-time homebuyers today service their housing loans through their CPF (Central Provident Fund) contributions, with very little or even no out-of-pocket cash," he added.

230. I post in REACH [2:35 pm, 27/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. The supply of BTO flats are going up - as well as condo and private houses - as construction activities ramp up after post pandemic.

2. As long as supply exceed demand - housing price will come down.

CNA news 01 May 2023 10:54AM (Updated: 01 May 2023 11:46AM)

Build-to-Order (BTO) flats remain affordable, with flat prices moving in tandem with incomes, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday (May 1).

The main problem Singapore is facing today is insufficient BTO flats due to supply delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mr Wong. 

"We are steadily catching up on the backlog – ramping up supply and building more BTO flats," he added, noting that 20,000 flats will be completed this year.

231. I post in REACH [1:20 pm, 05/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

9. ERP II uses satellites GPS and sensors to track car location through car receiver and charge accordingly based on road conditions.

Thought this project is awarded many years ago - but have not heard of since.

Wonder what happens to the concept of charge by usage instead of heavy emphasis on charge by ownership?

Straits Times (11 May 2023)

Can Singapore have higher car ownership and still be car-lite?

Let’s revisit the proposal in the 1990s to shift costs to usage rather than ownership.

232.I post in REACH [1:04 pm, 05/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

5. Wonder if ABSD equivalent can be applied to Coe - to discourage household owning more than 1 car?

Eg. All occupants in same address who buy more than 1 car would have to pay additional 60% of COE for the first additional car and 60% + 60% for the 3rd car etc.

[3:42 pm, 05/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Can the multiple car ownership be tightened?

This can free up more than 70,650 Coe for households that require to own cars.

CNA news 14 May 2023 06:01AM (Updated: 14 May 2023 08:28AM)

2. TAX THOSE WHO HAVE MORE CARS

Many online commenters have called for an additional buyers' stamp duty (ABSD) for cars, like for property – to tax those who buy more than one car.

But less than 15 per cent of households own multiple cars today, down from 19 per cent in 2012, said the Transport Minister.

At the end of October last year, 471,000 households owned cars, and 12 per cent of those owned two cars. Less than 3 per cent owned three or more cars.

233.I post in REACH [1:12 pm, 05/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

6. Also more weight should be put on car usage - as the purpose is to prevent car congestion.

Currently, very high weightage are put on car ownership - via coe by imposing zero growth - hence very high Coe price due to the restricted coe available as people put off scrapping their cars.

7. Wonder if more flexibility can be introduced to car quota while emphasizing charging based on car usage on road that are congested.

This is a more equitable way to price road usage rather than ownership.

Those who needs the car still can use it - while curbing their usage on congested roads.

CNA news 13 May 2023 06:00AM (Updated: 13 May 2023 08:35AM)

Instead of making it expensive to own a car, why not make it expensive to use instead

Research has shown that high COE prices have the unintended effect of inducing people to drive more. Should Singapore look at curbing vehicle usage rather than ownership? Distinguished Professor Ivan Png from NUS Business School weighs in.

234.I post in REACH [1:16 pm, 05/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

8. Thought the more equitable way to price car usage is via ERP II - whereby car once hit the roads will be charge according to road conditions.

For congested roads, higher ERP charges.

For less congested roads, less ERP charges.

Under ERP II, Coe quota will be relaxed allowing more households to be able to own cars - and use it when necessary without clogging the roads - as cars are charge more by usage rather than with full weightage by ownership aka high Coe prices.

CNA news 13 May 2023 06:00AM (Updated: 13 May 2023 08:35AM)

Meanwhile, consider the ERP system. A big step in this area would be the transition to the next-generation satellite-based ERP system, which is set to replace the current 25-year-old gantry system.

235.I post in REACH [1:33 pm, 13/07/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. Hence, my worry is that the current high food prices - will be unsustainable in the long run - and it should not be "Entrenched" as the benchmark food price going forward - when this current triple whammy of pandemic, war, global climate (triggering high energy price, supply disruption, raw material disruption) - that hit food supply tide over.

Once this price is "Entrenched" unlike energy price that will come down - this current high food price will become the default benchmark price - and residents will face long term difficulties - not only for the lower income but also middle income and even higher middle income.

5. Hence I will like to urge the Government to do a one time major exercise to bring the food prices down - once the current triple whammy of crisis tide over - such as encouraging food stall owner to join "Social Enterprise for Food" to lower their food prices to sustainable level - preferably pre-pandemic level plus GST hike of 2 percent - to ensure that they have a decent earning - but not overly exorbitant like the current price.

eg. a bowl of noodle should cost pre-pandemic $4 + GST 2% = $4.10 not $4.50.

This will ensure many lower income, retirees, middle income (who need to support many family members like their children and elderly) - will not face tremendous pressure from the high food price - which is a daily essential expenses.

[3:44 pm, 04/07/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Or the best is to organise a post-pandemic social enterprise food and drink price programme after the current price shock is over.

Then invite current food stall holders to join.

Those who are members of this programme will have a sticker or big label - where food price and drink price are bring down.

This will ensure the current high food prices and drink prices are not entrenched.

Straits Times (UPDATED MAY 19, 2023, 11:45 PM SGT)

The BudgetMealGoWhere website, launched by the Housing Board and the Government Technology Agency on Friday, allows residents to key in their postal code and look for cheaper meal and drink options within 2km of their location.

These budget meal options include full meals that cost between $3 and $3.50, together with hot drink options priced at $1 to $1.15 on average. The meals are not set at specific prices, as stall operators are encouraged to offer meals at competitive prices to match those of other options in the vicinity.

236.I post in REACH [1:53 pm, 09/06/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. As for whether should there be a contest or no contest for the Presidential post - I hope there will be a contest - and we can exercise our mandate to choose our next President.

Preferably, the contest will be SM Tharman and a non-establishment supported candidate.

2. The reasons being :-

a. A contested Presidential post - will provide even stronger legitimacy and mandate when the President is elected by the majority.

b. It will strengthen our democratic core - to work independently with good conscience to safeguard the people's and the Country's Sovereign Wealth.

c. It provide an implied indication of the mood of people - as subconsciously, people tend to associate a PAP-supported candidate to GE mood.

[2:14 pm, 09/06/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comment:-

I hope to see the PE be hotly contested and SM winning landslide victory 💪.

CNA news 11 Jun 2023 12:46PM (Updated: 11 Jun 2023 10:22PM)

Having a contest for the upcoming Presidential Election is “important for me”, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Sunday (Jun 11) as he expounded on his decision to run for the Singapore presidency. While no one else has signalled an intention to run for the presidency, observers have suggested that Harvey Norman Ossia’s founder George Goh could be a contender. 

237. CSK post in REACH on using carbon credits for plastic bags usage.

TPH post in REACH to use backend apps to capture the carbon credits for plastic bags usage.

[12:39 pm, 13/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

iii. Government use an apps and backend system to allocate "carbon credit" to each household.

This will throw the burden of supplying "reusable carrier bags" and "refuse bags" back to the private Supermarkets - and not use taxpayer's money to supply the reusable carrier bags and refuse bags --- in which consumers have already paid for in the supermarkets when buying groceries.

Household can collect a certain amount of reusable carrier bags and plastic bags (as refuse bags) free of charge from the supermarket --- according to the "carbon credit" assigned to each household using the apps and backend system to keep track.

Once all the "carbon credit" is used up - then consumers will have to pay for each reusable carrier bags and plastic bags used in the supermarket.

Straits Times UPDATED JUN 27, 2023, 5:00 AM SGT

Plastic credits were mooted at United Nations talks as part of proposed ways to address global plastic pollution, but discussions on its use have so far been broad and preliminary, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE).

Similar to how companies can purchase carbon credits to offset some of their greenhouse gas emissions, plastic credits allow companies to offset their plastic footprint by investing in plastic waste collection activities or in projects that help to develop or improve plastic recycling infrastructure.

238.SK post in REACH [30/06/2023, 4:15pm] - ☸️  Danny 心: 
My close friend comments:-
My only reaction to the reports is - why was the property vacant for so long? 
Was this reflected in AGO audit? 
Eg more publicity to promote, or lowering the rental rather than leaving them vacant?
I think people many have this question. 
Good if sla can answer and squash any murmurs.
CNA news (12 Jul 2023)
"SLA considering new measures to attract tenants for heritage bungalows.
SLA intend to reach out to family office to expand the tenant pool.
SLA also intend to extend the lease to 30 years or 60 years to make it more attractive to potential tenants.

239. I post in REACH [11:48 am, 12/04/2021] ☸️  Danny 心:

a. Impact to low and middle income household - who needs to dish out additional money to buy refuse bag (noting GST impending increase, public transport price increase, and pandemic trigger difficulties to household).

b. People may change their attitude towards bagging refuse eg. they may throw liquid waste or solid waste down the rubbish chute without bagging them - as they have no plastic bags to bag the waste. The consequences on hygiene will be dire :-

- rats, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, lizards, pigeons, birds etc and viruses, bacterias will grow - as people throw their refuse without bagging them.

c. High rise blocks rubbish chute will stink - and workers clearing the rubbish chutes will have a hard time. (Notice in chute when someone throw curry down without bagging them - the stench is unbearable --- and workers have to spray strong dose of water to clean up the curry mess).

Imagine this is multiply many times in every high-rise blocks ----- what will be the hygiene consequences islandwide?

CNA news 26 Jul 2023 10:35PM

Mr Tan suggested that the pest problem might be exacerbated as more people start to dump their trash directly into chutes instead of bagging them up, in a bid to avoid using plastic bags.

Large supermarket operators began imposing a plastic bag charge earlier this month. 

"In the future more and more people will just throw it through here ... the rats and cockroaches are happy that the food is there. I think this is another issue coming up," he said.

240. I post in REACH 28/07/2023, 12:15 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Labour conditions in Singapore

2. But mature workers around the age of 50 plus to 60 years old - face pressure from companies that do annual review - either to cut their salaries, or do demotion, or resign if do neither even though there are no degradation in performance.

28/07/2023, 12:20 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

But thought that government official retirement age is 67 years old.

Why companies (even GLCs) conduct such practices annually on all mature workers?

Shouldn't mature workers not subjected to such age discrimination?

28/07/2023, 1:49 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

But once hit 50 years old,  many patterns come out already.

Good performers turn bad automatically.

CNA 31 Jul 2023 03:01PM (Updated: 01 Aug 2023 12:47PM)

DISCRIMINATION EXPERIENCED BY JOBSEEKERS

Age (16.6 per cent), race (7.1 per cent) and mental health (5 per cent) discrimination were the most common forms of discrimination encountered during job searches, MOM said.

"While age discrimination remained the main form of discrimination towards jobseekers, the proportion of jobseekers who experienced age discrimination declined, from 18.9 per cent in 2021 to 16.6 per cent in 2022," MOM said.

Straits Times UPDATED JUL 31, 2023, 5:46 AM SGT

It’s time to tackle workplace discrimination head-on

Legislation is a big step forward, but its effectiveness depends on communication and implementation on the ground.

It has been more than 10 years since I started lobbying for a more level playing field for local professionals, managers and executives (PMEs).

Back in 2011, I received intense feedback from this group that nationality discrimination was prevalent in certain sectors. These included financial services, ICT (information and communications technology), and professional services. 

241.I post in REACH 31/07/2023, 12:46 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. Hence to sustain and replace our population needs for labour, for security, to support our aging population - accepting immigrants that can immerse into our Singapore culture will be the next best options.

31/07/2023, 1:00 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

6. Imagine 2 million singles out of 5.65 million have no replacement - what will be our labour and security situation - with not enough workers and soldiers?

A disastrous outcomes.

7. Hence immigrants will be our next best solutions.

31/07/2023, 1:01 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

8. Without such solution, our economy will collapse, and aggressor can easily overrun Singapore.

And we stop to exist.

Bloomberg (Yahoo News) Tue, August 15, 2023, 10:00 AM

Singapore’s declining birth rate and its aging population require a sustained yet well calibrated influx of migrant workers, according to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“If we are not able to bring in immigrants to top up the population then we are in structural decline, and eventually the population will decline, the workforce will decline and Singapore will decline,” Wong said at the Reinventing Destiny conference in Singapore on Monday.

242.I post in REACH 10/08/2023, 4:03 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Will like the Government to consider increase the income eligibility for BTO flats for young couples or even consider for Singaporeans, there are no income eligibility restriction to apply for BTO flats.

2. The reasons being :-

a. When a young couple 1st apply for the BTO flats, their combine income are below the income eligibility and thus are qualified to apply for the BTO flats. But most of the young couples are not successful in the 1st try. I was told that some have been doing the 7 tries to apply for the BTO flats and still not successful.

By the time the young couples managed to get into the queue, their combined income would have exceeded the income eligibility and can no longer apply for the BTO flats - this is unfair to these young couples - and are forced to buy private condos that they will have difficulties in financing.

b. Young couples could have a high combine income at the time of applying for the BTO flats and may not qualified. But a high income career is not always a given - as disruptive tech, AI and other career disruptors like workplace discrimination or other factors could have disrupted the jobs of the young couples and the income can drastically drop.

Hence forcing Singaporeans young couples to buy private condo or apartment - instead of BTO flats - will make young couples stressful - especially in mid-career they lose their jobs and income.

Hence I will like to suggest that irregardless of income level, all Singaporeans couple should be allowed to apply for BTO flats - because private condos are not cheap easily cost a millions. A BTO flats are also not cheap - just below $1 million for good locations and amenities.

c. Hence to encourage young couples to marry and to have children - young couples should be made easily to own BTO flats - and not forced them to take up private properties that can be unaffordable - if there are mid-career crisis - as now stable career and jobs are not a guarantee.

Else young couples will be discouraged to have more babies with so much uncertainties ahead.

Dollars and Sense 16 Aug 2023

Is The HDB Monthly Household Income Ceiling Still Relevant Amid Higher Wages & Inflation?

In 2019, 22.4% of households have a monthly income of $14,000 or more. In 2022, this has increased to 25.5%.

243.I post in REACH [2:13 pm, 23/11/2022] ☸️  Danny 心: 

6. Also how to assure people will actively look for jobs - once they receive insurance payout - as finding jobs, going for interview etc are very stressful - and people can easily give out - as they have fallback - ie. monthly insurance payout to rely on --- and this will blunt people's effort to look for jobs.

This will be bad for individuals, business looking for workers and consequently our Economy.

7. Hence a better approach is :-

a. Train and placement ---- whereby retrenched workers, unemployed workers actively looking for jobs - should be place on a train and placement program - supported by business - whereby upon completion of training - to be placed on a job.

While undergoing training, will received a living allowance to tie through the period while receiving training.

This will be more effective in ensuring retrenched or unemployed persons will have income to put food on table while receiving training, upon completion - land themselves a job.

Good for individual, business and Economy - competitiveness --- rather than a retrenchment insurance payout - bad for individual, business, economy - and additional burden to everyone --- and yet blunt the motivation to find jobs and land them a job.

CNA news 23 Aug 2023 02:37PM

Tiered payouts, coaching among suggestions to help retrenched workers navigate new financial support scheme

“But in this case, the government will be behind it. So whatever scheme is rolled out, it has to be financially affordable and sustainable.”

The new support scheme, which provides temporary financial aid for workers who have been laid off while they upgrade their skills, was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 20) at this year’s National Day Rally. 

“This scheme will ease the immediate pressure that job seekers experience so they can focus on upgrading their skills for a better long-term job,” said Mr Lee, adding that the scheme is currently being fine-tuned. 

The new scheme, which provides temporary financial aid for workers who have been laid off, was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at this year’s National The amount of support “shouldn't be too large such that it would discourage or disincentivise work”, said NTUC assistant secretary-general Patrick Tay, adding that workers have been asking for some form of financial support, especially in times when they are laid off. 

“But at the same time, it should be sufficient for them to tide through the difficult period.”Day Rally.

244.I and SK post in REACH 07/07/2023, 1:24 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

CPF need biometric authentication.

My comments:

But everytime I go to that page I hesitate.

Because if our face biometric kenna hack, then we will lose it forever and scammers can use it to login to many accounts including banks in future.

My close friend comments : 

Same with fingerprint biometrics, once hacked forever hacked. We got ten fingers to switch around but only 1 face.

My comments: 

Yes.

This is my real hesitation.

My close friend comments: 

But I knew of someone who underwent chemo therapy and travelled. The overseas immigration could not accept the facial biometric and she was stuck.

My comments : 

Biometric is prone to error.

Eg. Makeup, sweat, sleepy face etc.

That's why until now I hesitate to register with biometric - be it fingerprint or facial recognition.

07/07/2023, 1:53pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Biometric data are stored in the computer via math model converting biometric characteristics into binary form and stored into the computer - central server, central database, local laptop, local computer or handphone.

2. Though non reversible algorithm are used and even with strong encryption - to prevent biometric data from being stolen, biometric data can still be stolen.

3. Example, scammers may request and trick victims to put their face, palm, fingerprint or iris on a scanner - so that they can win prizes, or receive money rewards or other ways - that trick victims to release their userid, password or OTP.

4. Once done, scammers will have a permanent copy of the victims biometric data - be it face, fingerprints, palm print, iris etc.

And there is no way victims can change their face, fingerprints, palms or iris - unless they die and reborn with a new body.

5. Scammers will then have an unfettered access to victims bank, CPF and other financial system for life - and there is no way to reset or change the password.

6. Userid, password and OTP is what you know.

Biometric is what you have.

Userid password and OTP can change if stolen.

Biometric once stolen is forever stolen.

07/07/2023, 2:10pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Hence I will like to suggest the following security measures for any online banking, Singpass financial transactions such as CPF withdrawal or deposit, bank transfer (local and overseas) :-

1. Continue to use userid,  password, digital token, SMS OTP.

(What you know)

2. Replace biometric authentication by bank or CPF transfer - with call back verification through phone call or video conferencing or physical verification.

(What you have).

This will be a more foolproof identity authentication compare to biometric authentication.

[02/08/2023, 5:29pm] - ☸️  Danny 心: 

I am at HDB hub surfing my handphone.

2 policemen give me some brochures from SPF and CSA about cyber security and to scan a QR code to answer some cyber security quiz.

I told them the problem of using biometric authentication in CPF.

If scammers steal our biometric data, we will lose our authentication forever and scammers can access all our account and we cannot change.

The 2 policemen were stump and think for quite sometime.

Then one say did I feedback to the government.

I say I did.

They then say ok and walk away - but their body language tell me that they have not thought about it - and my concern hit home.

02/08/2023, 5:29 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

Now got voice synthesizers - can synthesize a person's voice with 30s voice sample. So it means that don't anyhow answer phone call. The caller may be capturing your voice and thereafter use it to synthesize for scamming purposes

02/08/2023, 5:29 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Yes.

Biometric authentication has this problem.

Unique to the person.

Once stolen, lost forever.

Standard news 12 Jan 2023 3:54 pm

He claimed to be testing a face-switching app on his phone and lured his colleagues into taking selfies and recording videos. He also stole colleagues' ID cards and other documents, including bank statements and tax return forms. 

He successfully opened five virtual bank accounts using the documents and passed the verification procedures using the facial features he captured from the selfies and videos. 

He then applied for loans ranging between HK$200,000 and HK$400,000 with each of the accounts, totaling about HK$1.8 million.

245. I post in REACH 04/09/2023, 1:54 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

5. Hence CCTV installation and ensuring the CCTV operate properly become imperative to protect the young children.

I strongly support ECDA's move.

I will also urge teachers to be able to carry their personal handphone with them in the child care centre to record abuses not capture by CCTV to whistleblow - as rouge Prinicipal may attempt to edit or erase CCTV footages or refuse to allow parents to see the CCTV footages - as the footages require the consent of the Principal to be released.

The uncooperative nature and attempt to sweep the abuses under the carpet is evidence in this Kinderland cases - if not for the whistleblower video footages taken by another teacher.

Today Published September 18, 2023 Updated September 19, 2023

Govt warns preschool operators against 'hindering' teachers from using mobile devices to report wrongdoing.

246. SK post in REACH 04/09/2023, 3:00 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

But I have a serious concern on installation of more CCTVs. Children bathe in the child care centres, need changing. 

And the CCTVs are going to capture them undressing. I can't imagine if the footages fallen into wrong hands.

My comments:-

Hmm...

I think those in the bathroom, or children undressing are not monitored by CCTV.

My close friend comments:-

Hard to say. Some well equipped childcare center - Yes, they have very spacious bathrooms. 

But certainly not those retrofitted from land properties - whereby one CCTV will have a full view (including bathrooms or spots whereby children undress).

Straits Times UPDATED SEP 18, 2023, 8:04 PM SGT

ECDA to be very careful about where CCTV cameras will be placed in pre-schools: Sun Xueling.

The pre-school sector regulator will also make sure that protocols are in place to safeguard the privacy of children and staff, while leveraging CCTV footage to improve security, Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling told Parliament on Monday.

247. I post in REACH 25/08/2023, 1:45 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

It is not about who give or give how much.

I think if announce that we will target the Majullah generation to recognise the sacrifice and contributions of this generation.

As government budget is tight, we will focus on the lower and middle income groups.

But we will have something for everyone - in the ethos of "leave no one behind".

A token Majullah cards for everyone in this age group as recognition for nation building.

How much in the cards never mind - at least we know the government has put us in their ❤️.

25/08/2023, 2:33 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Because government in the good meaning policies to help the lower and middle income groups facing difficulties - has almost completely overlook the other 20% of the population.

I smell this is a dangerous signal.

Hence critical to bring this up in these crucial moment - especially the announcement of Majullah generation.

25/08/2023, 12:06 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Thought at least a Majullah card for everyone with some discount in NTUC grocery purchase - will be "an ice in the cake".

At least, all in these age group feel that "we are recognised in nation building" - just like the pioneer and merdeka groups.

Business Times Published Tue, Sep 19, 2023 · 3:06 pm

MOF to consider having solely age-based components in Majulah Package, without additional criteria such as income, Senior Minister of State for Finance Chee Hong Tat said in Parliament on Tuesday (Sep 19).

MOF will therefore consider suggestions made by Members of Parliament Denise Phua and Edward Chia as it finalises the package, he added. Details of the Majulah Package will be announced in Budget 2024.

Phua and Chia had proposed that the package could include elements that are disbursed solely based on age, without considering recipients’ housing and income.

248. I post in REACH [2:09 pm, 30/01/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. However, I noticed that are still some loopholes that the current SSIR and ScamShield have not addressed :-

a. WhatsApp, Telegram messages

b. Email

c. QR codes

2. I understand the above come from the "data" network and not from the "voice" network - in which both SSIR and ScamShield - can engage our Telcos to filter out the scam calls and scam messages.

[2:27 pm, 01/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

b. Applaud the Government to beef up effort to protect against "Data network" - phising or scam effort through WhatsApp and Telegram after feedback - beefing up ScamShield to block WhatsApp and Telegram scam message, or voice or videos via the "Data network" - that will be ready for launch by end 2023.

28/07/2023, 3:08 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

I thought the government is developing new features for ScamShield that can filter all scam messages and scam calls from WhatsApp and telegram?

I thought should be ready this year Aug 2023 time frame?

Minister Josephine Teo and Ant-Scam unit security panel 21 Sep 2023 7.30pm

 

249. I post in REACH 11/09/2023, 2:24 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

*Interim Effective measure - to prevent scam in Android phones*

Anti-malware OCBC mobile apps

1. Read from the news that OCBC mobile apps version 18.1 and above - will require users to remove the apps or malware (not loaded by Google PlayStore) before allowing users to access OCBC mobile apps to effect financial transactions - and have prevented million dollars of loss through scam.

2. Will Government consider using such technique to be emulated by SingPass, CPF, other banks such as DBS, UOB, and overseas bank such as Maybank, SCB and other financial institutions etc.

This will help to prevent financial loss by users through scam - whereby malware that take control of user phones or keyloggers cannot be installed on user handphone.

25/09/2023, 4:14 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Just to update everyone about the outcome of anti-scam measures, got some good news for everyone.

1. OCBC anti-scam mobile apps - government will work with other banks to come out with similar security measures.

Citibank has done it.

Other banks should be on the pipeline.

CNA News 26 Sep 2023 10:55AM (Updated: 26 Sep 2023 12:07PM)

DBS, UOB become latest banks to restrict access if unverified apps are found on customers' phones

Both local banks said their new anti-malware security measures do not monitor phone activities, collect or store personal data.

They are the latest banks in Singapore to do so – after OCBC and Citibank – amid a spate of malware scams targeting users of Android devices.

250. I post in REACH [2:50 pm, 24/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. But I will want to point out the pitfalls of a "redundancy insurance" based on WP's proposal :-

a. Currently business and individual workers already have to set aside certain percentage of their salary to be put in CPF.

How are redundancy insurance to be financed by business and individual workers?

Are the business and workers to further set aside additional salaries to purchase the redundancy insurance on top of the contribution to CPF?

Then how much take home pay left for individual workers?

Then does it means that business will factor in redundancy insurance cost by lowering salary paid to workers to keep its business cost low?

b. Assuming a retrenched worker receive monthly redundancy payout - how long will it last.

If it last for years, it will reduce the worker's incentive to look for jobs, get themselves train to look for jobs - as looking for jobs, get trained is tough - and with redundancy payout --- it will blunt people's motivation to look for jobs --- and Singapore business and economy will be greatly impacted.

[2:56 pm, 24/04/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

5. In fact, I feel that Government implementing "Train and Placement" programme - to ensure retrenched workers get up to date skillsets that business want and make placement to jobs by participating companies make more sense.

Because it will ensure retrenched workers get the most direct help in skill training and get a job immediately upon completion of training.

6. Also, during the duration of training, government provide training allowance to the trainees, so that they will have monthly allowance to feed themselves and their familites while receiving training.

7. Once they secured a job after training through placement, virtually they will earn salaries --- and hence there is no need for "redundancy insurance" - that will put additional burden on business in terms of business cost and additional burden on individual workers to set aside additional salary to pay redundancy insurance premium - and have lesser take home pay.

Also redundancy payout will not blunt workers motivation to look for jobs after retrenchment.

CNA news 26 Sep 2023 08:58PM

Singapore is looking at introducing “appropriately sized” support for involuntarily unemployed workers, as part of a revamp and expansion of the country’s SkillsFuture programme, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday (Sep 26). 

“We don’t have to do this as an insurance scheme,” said Mr Wong as he delivered the keynote speech at the Economic Society of Singapore’s annual dinner.

“But we can have a government-funded benefit, appropriately sized, to help these workers tide through their immediate difficulties, while supporting them to continue with their upskilling and job search, and eventually bounce back stronger.”

The government has been “cautious” about introducing unemployment benefits “for a long time” due to “negative outcomes” in other countries, he said.

“Those who receive such generous benefits find it more attractive to stay unemployed, rather than get back to work.

251. I post in REACH [11/09/2023, 2:13 pm] - ☸️  Danny 心 and present to Minister Josephine Teo & anti-scam security panel (21Sep2023) : 

To tackle money laudering, we need to tackle vice and embezzlement.

Online scam - is the biggest source of illegal money.

Current anti-scam measures are still not "FAILSAFE" or "FOOLPROOF" to prevent online scam.

Let me explain why :-

*Current Anti-Scam measures*

1. Notice that current authentication method to access CPF, banking and other financial transaction are done via "What you know" :-

a. User id, password, OTP/digital token (SingPass) - 2FA or multi-FA.

2. There is also a discussion or intent to implement Biometric Authentication  - essentially "What you have" :-

a. eg. facial recognition, fingerprinting, IRIS, voice recognition etc - for CPF access for 55 years or older.

(Both attempts to establish the true identity of the user - essentially "Who you really are, and your real intent" to effect the fund transfer.

- But unfortunately both can be "stolen" by scammers :-

a. Remote control malware downloaded to take over the victim handphone or malware keyloggers that steal userid, password and OTP.

b. Biometric features can be lifted off from photo, video, fingerprint scan, audio in social media or other platform. Biometric features (once stolen, will be forever lost - unless one change the face, finger, eyes of voice). 

If stolen, scammers will have unlimited and unfetter access to all banks, finance institution, CPF - as password lost can be changed but not biometric features.

Note :- There is a recent news whereby a HK scammer lift the facial features from his colleagues in selfie and wefie photos and videos - and scam a virtual bank loan of HK$1.8 million.

https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/199137/'Face-stealing'-man-among-trio-arrested-in-HK$1.8m-loan-fraud

https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/hk/security/news/internet-of-things/leaked-today-exploited-for-life-how-social-media-biometric-patterns-affect-your-future

https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2021/10/14/huge-bank-fraud-uses-deep-fake-voice-tech-to-steal-millions/

----

3. Hence there is an urgent need to put in place - "Who you really are, and your real intent" (as biometric - cannot achieve this feature - because scammers can steal biometric and masquerade the real user and fool the security system during authentication).

a. By requiring user to use "Userid, password, digital token/OTP" to achieve 1st level access - are in fact the 1st FA (digital access) --- but no way to ascertain the user is the real user by the bank / financial security system.

b. Hence will need another non-digital authentication verification - to determine "who you really are, and your real intent" which I suggest :-

i. Recorded Video conferencing verification (eg. using zoom or Whatsapp vc, or Telegram vc) - whichever platform is secured and comfortable to both the banks and financialy institutions. As Banks / Financial institutions can see and hear the real users - to determine who you really are and his real intent by checking with him online.

ii. Recorded Telephone call back by banks/financial institutions/CPF to achieve similar effect.

iii. Appear physically in banks/financial institutions/CPF 

--- before banks/financial institutions/CPF effect the transfer.

(Note :- I acknowledge this is a crude, inefficient method - to effect fund transfer as there could be millions of fund transfer transaction per day - and will draw up many resources from the banks/financial institutions or CPF.

But it is to-date the only "FAILSAFE or Foolproof" method - to establish "who you really are, and your real intent" ---- as oppose to other more efficient digital method of authentication but not foolproof or failsafe - resulting in tremendous monetary loss to victims, banks/financial institutions and policing overhead to track, trace, and arrest scammers).

I will not insist on this crude and less efficient method (that provide "air gap" - similar to "physical segregation of internet and intranet access" - that are crude, costly but foolproof/failsafe) - if new, innovative digital solutions are found and develop --- achieving similar effects.

CNA news 06 Oct 2023 09:02PM

Singapore banks to allow customers to 'lock up' funds in latest move to guard against scams

DBS says its new digiVault account will take a “digitally in, only physically out” approach, with funds only accessible after identity verification. OCBC and UOB are also set to roll out similar features.

The concept of a “money lock” has been studied by the banking industry to guard against rising scam cases, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan in parliament last month.

Such a feature will allow banking customers to set aside a certain amount in their accounts that “cannot be digitally transferred out without strict authentication measures”. 

“This will further help to limit losses against scams,” he said in response to an adjournment motion on measures to protect banking customers against scams.

In a press release on Friday (Oct 6), DBS announced the upcoming roll-out of a new banking account – called digiVault – that will adopt a “digitally in, only physically out” approach.

This means that customers will be able to make fund transfers digitally into this new account, but not for outgoing transactions.

With customers’ funds being unable to be accessed digitally, the new digiVault will help to prevent scammers who gain unauthorised access to customers’ phones and accounts from performing fraudulent digital transactions, DBS said.

The bank added that funds in the upcoming digiVault account – set to be launched by the end of November – will only be accessible when customers verify their identities.

One such way is to have customers visit a bank branch with their proof of identity, such as an IC or passport. In addition to in-person verification at bank branches, DBS is exploring other options which will be announced next month.

“digiVault is akin to a virtual safe deposit box in a vault,” said the bank’s Singapore country head Han Kwee Juan. “The funds in the account are locked away and will give our customers peace of mind that it cannot be accessed digitally.”

UOB AND OCBC TO ANNOUNCE SIMILAR FEATURES

OCBC said it will implement a “money lock” feature – which allows customers to “ringfence an amount from their account balances that cannot be digitally transferred out” – on its banking app by end-November.

When rolled out, a “cross-channel authorisation measure” will be needed to “unlock” the ringfenced funds, said Beaver Chua, head of anti-fraud at the bank’s group financial crime compliance.

For example, a customer will have to perform the unlocking function on a different platform other than the app, such as at an OCBC ATM.

Over at UOB, the bank will also roll out its own version of a “money lock” by November after studying the concept closely.

“We believe that the money lock can be an effective tool to limit risk exposure online as it is able to ringfence a portion of funds as designated by the customer from digital transfers or intrusion,” said the bank’s head of group compliance Daniel Ng.

252. I post in REACH [11/09/2023, 2:24 pm] - ☸️  Danny 心: 

*Interim Effective measure - to prevent scam in Android phones*

Anti-malware OCBC mobile apps

1. Read from the news that OCBC mobile apps version 18.1 and above - will require users to remove the apps or malware (not loaded by Google PlayStore) before allowing users to access OCBC mobile apps to effect financial transactions - and have prevented million dollars of loss through scam.

2. Will Government consider using such technique to be emulated by SingPass, CPF, other banks such as DBS, UOB, and overseas bank such as Maybank, SCB and other financial institutions etc.

This will help to prevent financial loss by users through scam - whereby malware that take control of user phones or keyloggers cannot be installed on user handphone.

(Note :- This technique is useful only for users that use Android handphone to perform financial transactions - but not for users using iPhone or laptop to effect financial transaction).

3. Notice that one Singaporean attempt to order some beer online with 50% discount, but the moment he do it, scam malware was downloaded.

The scammer cannot access his OCBC mobile apps due to the apps anti-scam measures that detected malware downloaded to his handphone (not through Google PlayStore).

But the scammer able to access his DBS account as DBS mobile apps don't have the anti-malware measures.

4. Hence if anti-scam unit is able to develop similar OCBC anti-malware apps in ScamShield - then it go a long way to prevent scammers to be able to download malware into handphone users. All CPF and bank users must be made compulsory to install such enhanced ScamShield before they can use their mobile apps to access CPF, bank accounts.

5. Else MAS may want to mandate all banks, CPF and financial institutions to develop similar OCBC anti-scam mobile apps measures to prevent online scam.

CNA news 06 Oct 2023 09:02PM

At least four have rolled out greater controls that restrict user access to their apps in a bid to nullify the threat of malware-enabled scams.

OCBC was the first to do so in August, with its security feature preventing Android users from accessing the bank’s digital services on their phones if potentially risky apps downloaded from unofficial portals – otherwise known as sideloaded apps – are detected.

Last week, Citibank, DBS and UOB announced their set of security measures that similarly deny access to their digital services if users’ phones contain apps from unverified app stores.

253. I WhatsApp SK 6/10/23, 5:09 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Notice most malware come from Facebook, Instagram and carousel.

Wonder why government didn't ask these social media platform to wipeout such malwares.

Also isn't these social media platform should be held responsible for propagating such scam resulting in victims losing life savings? 

CNA news 10 Oct 2023 01:27PM

The police are working with social media company Meta to terminate WhatsApp lines believed to be used in scams, as well as remove suspicious online monikers and advertisements.

Victims have fallen prey to a spate of Android malware scams in recent months, many of which involve advertisements on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, promoting products and services.

254. I post in REACH [3:56 pm, 09/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Also noticed that DBS disruption login woes are not too difficult to overcome :-

a. The latest login problem - due to high login volumes.

b. The previous login problem - need IT support to activate backup.

c. Long ago, upgrade the system - cause downtime, need to activate backup.

With reference to the "written" logical diagram:

1. Understand the average transaction volume and the peak transaction volume (eg. 100,000 thousand login - peak transaction volume).

2. Do engineering and math computation - how many Web-App-Database eg. Web ACS (Authentication/Access Control System), Apps (D3S system), Database - how many transaction it can handle.

Asssume the Web-App-DB set can handle a peak of 25,000 login volume, then 4 sets of Web-App-DB will suffice.

3. 2 SLB (Server Load Balancers) will suffice to handle 4 Web-App-DB virtual machines (VMs) running in "Active-Active" mode - no "Active-Passive" mode configuration - for internal resiliency - if one set down, the rest of the 3 sets takeover.

ie. 4 active "horses" running concurrently - each set able to handle 25,000 to handle peak customer login access.

4. 2 GLB or 3DNS (GLBs) will handle the external URL hit (and do URL and IP resolution).

If one Web-App-DB is overloaded with more than 25,000 login request, GLB will redirect remote customer login request to another Web-App-DB sets - by redistributing the login traffic - and traffic load can redistribute to 4 server set.

Hence no issue of heavy volume and server cannot handle heavy load.

(Note:- if there are a backup Data Centre (DC), additional 4 sets can be similarly configure - so in total 8 "Active-Active sets" are servicing the DBS customers - in "military grade resilient cyber infrastructure" with "No Single Point of Failure".

Even if the Primary Data Centre is on fire or bomb, Secondary Data Centre can run in "4 Active-Active" mode - and DBS customers may not even realise the DC1 is down.

5. Database is synchonized online through SAN configuration via fiber connection.

As one transaction is completed, the transacted record is updated via the multiple database in primary data centre and secondary data centre online, realtime.

6. Hence such desgin will address all the 3 scenarios that cause DBS login online disruption :-

a. Heavy load - redistributed by SLB and GLB

b. Primary Web-App-DB failure - SLB and GLB redirect to other healthy Wen-Apps-DB.

c. System upgrade failure in one Web-App-DB, can be taken offline immediately and SLB and GLB can redirect customers to other healthy sets.

7. So I don't see DBS login disruption will ever happen if the design are done correctly.

CNA news 24 Oct 2023 06:00AM

The importance of the data centre means that banks always have a backup data centre. Some banks also have two data centres that share the workload concurrently. In such cases, if one fails, the other can pick up the slack.

Dr Dennis Khoo, a managing partner at digital consultancy allDigitalFuture, said: "Generally for mission-critical applications like banks, there are multiple levels of redundancy. 

"In most advanced banks, using the latest technologies, the database will be instantly replicated, that means they'll have a primary site and alternate site and the data is replicated instantly on both sites," said Dr Khoo. 

The Singapore Computer Society said most data centres are designed and built with a certain level of redundancy and the ability to conduct maintenance in real time. They are also specifically built to meet the exact redundancy requirements of the business, it said.

And with proper design, this is not supposed to happen.”  

255. I post in REACH [6/11/23, 12:32 pm] - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Banks should be mandated to implement as announced by MAS:-

a. Digital in, Physical out.

b. OOB authentication

2. Only then such scam will not be successful - because banks can identify the real identity of the bank customers and not let scammers steal away the innocent victims savings who have been tricked by the scammers malware. 

CNA news 20 Nov 2023 12:34PM (Updated: 20 Nov 2023 12:45PM)

"Introducing a default daily limit for online CPF withdrawals is part of CPF Board’s ongoing efforts to safeguard CPF savings against fraudulent withdrawals online," it said.

A default online Central Provident Fund (CPF) withdrawal limit of S$2,000 (US$1,500) a day will be applied from Nov 30 to all CPF members aged 55 and above.

The default daily withdrawal limit can be adjusted online to any amount, up to S$200,000.

Any increase to the daily withdrawal limit will require Singpass face verification and a 12-hour cooling period to prevent unauthorised adjustments.

For members who wish to disable online withdrawals, they can do so by activating the CPF withdrawal lock, which instantly sets the daily withdrawal limit to S$0.

Once the lock is activated, withdrawals can only be made in person at CPF service centres.

256. I post in REACH 6/11/23, 12:32 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Banks should be mandated to implement as announced by MAS:-

a. Digital in, Physical out.

b. OOB authentication

2. Only then such scam will not be successful - because banks can identify the real identity of the bank customers and not let scammers steal away the innocent victims savings who have been tricked by the scammers malware.

6/11/23, 6:17 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. Hence to help seniors and even young users to gain confidence to use 5. Hence, the need to establish the "Foolproof, Failsafe" authentication "out of the full digital authentication - which in fact is 1FA - as they are all in-band authentication that can be stolen by a compromise digital device" --- will be needed.

a. My propose solutions as discussed with the Minister and her Ministry officer has identified the following is thus essential to augment the digital inband authentication - with the "OOB - Out Of Band" authentication that is outside the digital authentication loop - that cannot be stolen and can unambigiously identify the bank users as the legitimate users.

b. Specifically, the OOB authentication are :-

i. Digital In (Inband), Physical Out (Outband)

ii. OOB Authentication (Various local banks will adopt their own different variants to augment the inband digital authentication).

iii. Malware detection Bank Apps (started by OCBC mobile apps, adopted by Citibank, DBS, UOB)

iv. "Money lock" - a separate account to achieve all the above - for a large part of the savings to be set aside - as online scammers won't have access to through digital means - and hence safeguarding the life savings set aside.

c. Note:- the above measures will introduce some inconveniences to bank users and CPF users --- but it is the biggest, FAILSAFE and FOOLPROOF safeguard to protect digital bank users savings - as well as inject confidence to digital users --- that online scammers will be very difficult to scam the online digital users.

CNA news 27 Nov 2023 12:59PM (Updated: 27 Nov 2023 01:21PM)

DBS, OCBC and UOB on Monday (Nov 27) announced new money-locking features for customers to guard against scams.

Customers will be able to lock up their funds using their app or internet banking. These funds can only be unlocked when customers visit a bank branch to verify their identity.

257. I post in REACH 04/01/2020, 01:37am - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Thus protection such as building dykes, southern front residential buildings --- will be a good way to finance the sea protection.

CNA news 29 Nov 2023 12:43PM (Updated: 29 Nov 2023 02:49PM)

Why is it needed?

Coastal protection measures are at the heart of the Long Island plan.

Long Island's 800ha of reclaimed land off East Coast could be split into three segments catering to commercial and residential use; recreational activities; and Changi's hub ambitions, according to an expert. 

258. I post to SK 31/12/23, 3:15pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

I have not very good feelings that skirmishes may erupt in Korean peninsula.

Straits Times 05 Jan 2024 6:24pm

"North Korea fires over 200 rounds of artillery shells near South Korean islands".

Residents on the two islands were ordered to evacuate, and ferries were suspended as South Korea held a live-fire exercise after the North’s barrage – one of the most serious military escalations on the peninsula since Pyongyang fired shells at one of the same islands in 2010.

259. I post in REACH 15/12/23, 2:12 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Just to bring up some fact checks that are raise in REACH and how government implemented it:-

I. *Anti-scam measures*

1. Anti-scam mobile apps for 3 local banks and 1 foreign bank implemented (very good).

2. Money lock:-

a. DBS 

- FD lock (very good)

- DigiVault for savings account (very good)

b. OCBC

- saving account money lock (very good)

- but no FD money lock 

Both also no money lock for:

- apply loan online

- extend credit limit

(That means if scammers get hold of victims banking credentials - can apply bank loans or spend its credit card up to maximum limit) - causing victims to incur heavy debts and debt interest.

This needs to be plug - as this is a gap.

CNA news 05 Jan 2024 02:07PM

OCBC - In response to CNA’s queries, Beaver Chua, head of anti-fraud at the bank’s group financial crime compliance, said that its Money Lock security feature will be extended to fixed deposits by the first quarter of 2024.

260. I post in REACH 15/12/23, 2:12 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Just to bring up some fact checks that are raise in REACH and how government implemented it:-

I. *Anti-scam measures*

1. Anti-scam mobile apps for 3 local banks and 1 foreign bank implemented (very good).

2. Money lock:-

a. DBS 

- FD lock (very good)

- DigiVault for savings account (very good)

b. OCBC

- saving account money lock (very good)

- but no FD money lock 

Both also no money lock for:

- apply loan online

- extend credit limit

(That means if scammers get hold of victims banking credentials - can apply bank loans or spend its credit card up to maximum limit) - causing victims to incur heavy debts and debt interest.

This needs to be plug - as this is a gap.

11/09/2023, 2:24 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

2. Will Government consider using such technique to be emulated by SingPass, CPF, other banks such as DBS, UOB, and overseas bank such as Maybank, SCB and other financial institutions etc.

1/12/23, 3:14 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

I purposely, innocently go to an offshore bank - Maybank and ask can savings and FD be moneylock to protect against online scammers?

This is to "buat bodoh" - using customers pressure to press offshore banks also to do moneylock to protect bank customers.

Maybank officer say only local banks are doing moneylock but not offshore banks.

I say offshore banks also need to protect bank customers against online scammers.

The bank officer start to look panicky.

I say good to feedback to your bank management.

CNA news 12 Jan 2024 08:23PM

Singapore banks will continue to improve on the design of their money-locking features over the coming months, said the director of the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) on Friday (Jan 12).

"Banks will continue to iterate and improve on the design of the money lock over the coming months, based on customer feedback."

DBS head of consumer banking group (Singapore) Jeremy Soo told CNA that it is looking to “extend digiVault protection to other types of accounts and/or products in the coming weeks”.

He added that the Monetary Authority of Singapore is working with other major retail banks to introduce such money-locking features.

261. I post in REACH 15/12/23, 2:12 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

2. Money lock:-

b. OCBC

- saving account money lock (very good)

- but no FD money lock 

Both also no money lock for:

- apply loan online

- extend credit limit

(That means if scammers get hold of victims banking credentials - can apply bank loans or spend its credit card up to maximum limit) - causing victims to incur heavy debts and debt interest.

This needs to be plug - as this is a gap.

Business Time Published Thu, Jan 25, 2024 · 5:22 pm Updated Fri, Jan 26, 2024 · 4:29 pm

OCBC to roll out Money Lock for time deposits from end-January.

“Prevailing interest rates continue to apply to locked funds so OCBC Money Lock users will not miss out on bonus interest earned on their total balances for accounts,” said OCBC.

The bank added that customers can only withdraw existing placements or change their maturity instructions at an OCBC branch, and cannot do so on the OCBC Digital app, if they choose to use OCBC Money Lock on their time deposit accounts.

262. I post in REACH 23/1/24, 12:19 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. I will like to comment on LTA conducted market testing and focus groups of 1,000 people on SimplyGo solution.

2. This is a good move to test public response to new system.

3. But is the 1,000 participants representative of the whole population feedback is the issue.

7. LTA should have get feedback from larger population such as REACH and larger pool of population feedback than relying on just 1,000 specially selected focus groups - that can be biased and skew the response.

Notice cycling path is the same issue.

Plastic bags charges same issue - whereby only environmentalists savvy folks are invited. 

23/1/24, 12:34 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

The sample size should be representative of the whole population.

If 10,000 all come from the same transport savvy folks - then the result will similarly be skewed.

CNA news 26 Jan 2024 06:30PM (Updated: 26 Jan 2024 07:56PM)

Some commuters questioned the consultation process after LTA made the announcement earlier this month.

Mr Chee said LTA conducted a series of consultations with different groups of commuters from 2020 to 2023. This included focus group discussions and a trial with more than 1,000 commuters.

The Transport Minister said: “If we had consulted more widely, and gathered views from a wider group of commuters before we made the decision and the announcement on Jan 9, we would have come across the stronger reactions and preferences that some commuters had expressed, which is, that they want to keep the current feature of being able to view the fare deductions and card balances at the fare gates and at bus card readers.

In response to a question on what would be a good number of respondents for such a survey, Mr Chee said it “would have been useful” for the authorities to consult more widely and hear a wider range of views and concerns before making a decision.

“This is on hindsight. We learn from it and we hope we are able to do better in future,” he added.

263. I post in REACH 23/1/24, 6:16 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Just speculating, the $40 million could be spend in :-

1. Upgrading the software and hardware to do one time conversion exercise. Not sure whether of any further hiccup with 5 months timeline.

2. Maintain the current system with no hiccups - while looking into a better more holistic solutions that can meet most if not all the good functions.

CNA news 26 Jan 2024 06:30PM (Updated: 27 Jan 2024 10:06AM)

This means there will be three systems: The account-based ticketing system SimplyGo, the CBT system for adults, as well as the CBT system for concession card holders.

He said the government will look at whether it is possible to “progressively integrate” the two CBT systems over time.

The minister has also tasked LTA to improve the features of SimplyGo.

"This is something which we want to do, because I think it is important to provide this to our commuters who want to be able to see their fare deductions and card balances at the fare gates and bus card readers.

264. SK post in REACH 23/1/24, 5:39 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

Multiple payment systems are expensive to maintain. 

There are currently 5 different types? 🤦🏻‍♂️

I strongly support gov direction to even boldly do away with some of them and keep the system nimble.

After all, it's either taxpayers and/or communters who have to pay for the costs.

My sense is it is possible to do away with ez link (although it's my personal choice of payment). We have built our little habits around our favourite choice and removing it means tampering with personal habits, evoke objections.

I'm also disappointed that gov apologised. Why?! 

It was for a right motive. We have to stand up for the good and right moves. Then apology could be about the When and How. 

High inflation, expensive housing, insecure jobs etc put everyone in agitated moods. 

Whatever changes which add inconveniences/costs can make temper flare. 

Then we should also be mindful of antagonists who hide behind their computers and  oppose to everything (they may not even be living in sg).

Among those who prefer ezlink mode of payment, there are also varying degrees of attachment to this mode. 

Surely, they can be lured away through better comms, engagement, induction, or even sweeteners. 

With $40M saving in mind, it is worth that effort. 

If this were a right thing to do, a good thing to do, then don't give up. 

Re examine the comms, the onboarding for ezlink diehards like me.

Straits Times UPDATED JAN 30, 2024, 5:01 AM SGT

Forum: ‘Yes’ to new fare cards if commuters had known about $40m

I am disappointed that the Land Transport Authority is thinking of spending $40 million to extend the usage of the existing fare cards, mainly so that commuters can see fare deductions and card balances when tapping out at fare gates (Phasing out older payment cards in SimplyGo switch a ‘judgment error’, says Transport Minister, Jan 26).

If the public had known that so much money would be involved in keeping the old system, we would definitely be able to accept the minor inconvenience of not being able to see fare deductions and card balances when we tap out. 

Therefore it was the right decision to retire the older cards but commuters just needed to know the reason for the change and the costs involved for keeping them.

Lin Hay Tsu

265. I post in REACH 6/11/23, 12:20 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

5. Unless social media platform are held responsible or take greater responsibility to filter such malicious links - more Singaporeans or residents may fall into such traps.

6/11/23, 12:24 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Wonder why not use AI content filtering to sieve all social media that carry such messages - to do a more refine screenings, such as going through a few round scrutiny - with human testing the links if the links are safe before allowing such links to reach the recipients?

27/10/23, 6:14 pm - ☸️  Danny 心:

Some people say, how to know whether those online sellers are scammers or legitimate sellers?

Many Facebook, carousel, Instagram, WhatsApp , telegram host many of the scammers.

My answer is how come shoppe, Lazada, Amazon, Alibaba, taobao, q100 etc knows?

How come those scammers disguise as durian sellers, fish sellers, tickets sellers, moonkcake sellers etc advertise in Facebook, Instagram, carousel, WhatsApp, telegram don't know?

It is whether the social media platform want to do a good job to verify whether the sellers are legitimate sellers or scammers.

So to protect our people, filter off suspicious scammers using AI and content filtering apps from these platforms who are not doing a good jobs in verifying the legitimacy of these sellers who are actually scammers.

Then can protect many of our people life savings.

Straits Times UPDATED JAN 30, 2024, 7:49 PM SGT

Directions can be issued to any online service provider, entity or individual, as long as there is reasonable suspicion that an online activity is linked to a specified offence. Examples of specified offences include those relating to terrorism and internal security, racial and religious harmony, drugs, violence and scams.

The threshold is lower for scams and malicious cyber activities, allowing directions to be issued even if there is only suspicion that certain online activities are in preparation of such offences.

On Jan 30, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said this was so that such offences can be proactively disrupted, even before the public falls prey to them.

If the directions are not complied with, an Ocha order can then be issued to restrict access to the service or part of the service to limit the further exposure of persons in Singapore to the criminal activity.

266. SK and I post in REACH 23/1/24, 2:52 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

*Card consolidation & ERP 2*

My close friend comments:-

1. It begs the question - why lta allowed so many different modes and cards over time - ezlink, flashplay, simplygo, mastercard/visa, nets.

2. Then there'll be an upcoming erp 2 system. One of these? All of these? Or a new system 😅

3. High time to consolidate and need to future-proof future system like ERP 2 and other future systems. I still think need to consolidate, rather than trying to please everyone and having to support so many payment types. Just need to understand the ground sentiments.

23/1/24, 4:09 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. With the same consolidated card (hybrid ez link cum SimplyGo card) - users don't need to carry so many cards.

1 consolidated super-duper "Transport card" - can be used in all form of transport be it - MRT, bus, taxi, car park, ERP 2, retail stores at petrol stations etc.

CNA news 05 Feb 2024 01:00PM (Updated: 05 Feb 2024 02:15PM)

"Based on this feedback, LTA decided not to shift concession card holders over to SimplyGo and instead retain the concession CBT system for these commuters," said Mr Chee. 

"We therefore decided not to proceed with the earlier decision to sunset the CBT system for adult commuters, so that commuters who prefer to have the option of using CBT EZ-Link cards or NETS FlashPay cards to pay for public transport can still do so," said Mr Chee.

"We will also find ways to integrate the two CBT systems over time without affecting commuters, and to reduce overall costs where possible," he said.

"But as you know, a lot of these stored-value cards, EZ-Link cards, for example, have an expiry date. So when the current cards expire, if we are able to then issue a new card under the integrated system, then in future we can gradually, progressively work towards having one CBT system," he said.

Instead, the goal is to enhance the features and user experience for SimplyGo, so it can eventually be used for retail, motoring and public transport - just like an EZ-Link card today, he said.

Straits Times 05 Feb 2024

2. Plans for SimplyGo to be a ‘universal card’

LTA will look into expanding the use of the account-based SimplyGo system to cover motoring payments in future, on top of its current uses for public transport and retail.

This is in addition to finding a way to let users see fare deductions and card balances when they tap out, without slowing down the flow of passengers, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.

267. SK and I post in REACH 31/1/24, 12:45 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

I understand the good intent of SEPP but I'm concerned over the final decision of release rest upon the Minster of the day.

Does that mean we are mixing government powers and judicial powers?

What if one day, the people of Singapore voted in a bunch of morons ? 

Letting them govern is bad enough, and they also encroach into judicial matters? 🤔

31/1/24, 1:11 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

The key is to vote for good wise men. 

Doesn't mean vote opposition going to solve the problem.

31/1/24, 4:06 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

*Should Government functions be segregated from Justice functions - in administering criminal justice?*

6. Hence I stay neutral in either approach - that is Minister have final say or Independent Professional Panel --- as both approach have its pros and cons -- and both rely on a Good and Competent Government of the Day.

Hence electing a Good and Competent Governmen is paramount come the General Election.

Else no matter what mechanism put in to do the "Check and Balance" - a bad government can dismantle many things - and put the Country in a very bad state.

It all depends on the Wisdom of the Voters - to vote in a Good and Dependable Government - not a populist one that promise everything under the sun - but will sink the Country in near, middle or long term.

This is my "Honest Assessment" and also my "Close Friend Assessment".

CNA news 05 Feb 2024 08:11PM (Updated: 05 Feb 2024 10:20PM)

The minister will be advised by a review board made up of relevant experts like retired judges, lawyers, psychiatrists and psychologists.

During the debate, MPs raised several issues:

It is not the judiciary but the Home Affairs Minister, who is part of the executive branch, who decides whether an SEPP offender should be detained beyond their minimum term.

The Home Affairs Minister is already the decision-maker for early release in the cases of corrective training, preventive detention and life imprisonment, Ms Rahayu added.

268. SK and I post in REACH 31/1/24, 21/2/24, 3:41 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Unless we provide premium value services or goods that people want and willing to pay a premium.

Else fighting low cost competitors - we cannot be too far out.

Budget conscious travellers won't bite and won't come in.

21/2/24, 3:53 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Eg.  Taylor Swift concert, BlackPink concert ?

Money no issue.

Travellers all over the world will come.

Airport sustainable fuel levy - sub sub water.

Peanut 🥜

21/2/24, 4:01 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

"STB gave grant for Taylor Swift's Singapore concerts, other government bodies 'worked directly' with promoter AEG.

STB and the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth were responding to media queries after the Thai prime minister said Singapore had struck an exclusive deal with Taylor Swift."

Singapore so rich, throw big money to bring in Taylor Swift to perform in Sports Hub.

21/2/24, 4:25 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

This is what I mean by creating premium value services and goods - that overseas premium tourists want and willing to pay.

And we will not be bitten by low cost competitors.

Because some competitors are instinctively against such concerts.

21/2/24, 4:30 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

If want more tourism receipts :-

1. Extend the concerts by 1 week, increase by 7 days performance.

2. Ringfence 70% concert tickets for overseas travellers.

Then our :-

tourism business ✓

GDP ✓

Jobs✓

Government revenue ✓

Airport tax, security tax, fuel tax etc✓

More GST voucher ✓

$$$$$$✓

Everything is ok✓

CNA news 23 Feb 2024 06:00AM (Updated: 23 Feb 2024 09:41AM)

Taylor Swift effect: Singapore hotels, airlines see up to 30% spike in regional demand for 6 sell-out shows.

Earlier this week, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said it provided a grant to help bring Swift's Eras tour to the country next month, her only stop in Southeast Asia.

"It is likely to generate significant benefits to the Singapore economy, especially to tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel and dining, as has happened in other cities in which Taylor Swift has performed," said the tourism board and the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) in a joint statement.

According to one expert, Swift's concerts in Singapore could generate revenue in the ballpark of and possibly exceed the estimated A$1.2 billion (US$787 million) in economic value from her time in Melbourne.

More than 300,000 tickets have been sold, with a "significant" number of fans travelling from other countries, said MCCY and STB.

Major concerts featuring internationally acclaimed performers such as Taylor Swift, their fans contribute "significantly" to hotel reservations.

"The demand from international visitors cum concertgoers continues to have a positive impact on our resort’s occupancy, which will be at peak levels from early March onwards," he said.

By lowering costs, grants can potentially allow for higher ticket prices or more shows, ultimately increasing the artist's earnings, added Dr Samer Elhajjar, a senior lecturer of marketing from the National University of Singapore's Business School.

The provision of grants to bring in performers is nothing new, said Mr Christopher Khoo, managing director of tourism consultancy MasterConsult Services. It is "not uncommon" that destinations offer financial incentives to anchor major events.

Such grants are given to encourage tourism development in a "specific direction", said Mr Khoo, who spent 15 years at STB.

"Additionally, grants can help cover the costs associated with venue rental, transportation, and accommodations, easing the financial burden on artists and their teams," he said.

"This financial flexibility can empower artists like Taylor Swift to optimise their touring strategies and expand their reach to new audiences."

269. I and SK post in REACH 19/2/24, 1:03 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Hence the difference between SA and RA ERS - make alot of differences - because of the payout to beneficiaries (even though the interest 4.08% is the same).

SA = SA capital+ SA interest - to beneficiaries.

RA = RA capital - to beneficiaries (RA interest forfeited). <This message was edited>

19/2/24, 1:07 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

That's moving SA to OA despite lower interest rate 2.5% - make better sense than moving to RA ERS despite earning 4.08%.

If a retiree have longer lifespan - then it benefits the retirees.

Else, RA interest will be forfeited and go back to the gratuity pool while only RA capital pass on to beneficiaries.

19/2/24, 1:08 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

So even financial analyst didn't take this into account - when they claim moving SA to RA ERS - no difference.

It is alot of difference! <This message was edited>

19/2/24, 1:14 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

Cpf needs to clarify if there were a mistake in reporting. 

One commentary said otherwise.

CNA news 26 Feb 2024 08:24PM (Updated: 27 Feb 2024 10:08AM)

MP Louis Chua (WP-Sengkang) had no qualms about the closing of the Special Account. But he pointed out that even though the stated interest rate of the Special Account and Retirement Account was identical, “the actual yield that is earned by the two accounts could not be more different”. 

The funds in the Retirement Account would be used to pay the premiums for the CPF Life plan, which gives members lifelong monthly payouts. But any interest earned once payouts begin will be pooled together under CPF Life for all members rather than accrue to the individual member, he noted. 

270. I post in REACH [1:12 pm, 05/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

6. Also more weight should be put on car usage - as the purpose is to prevent car congestion.

Currently, very high weightage are put on car ownership - via coe by imposing zero growth - hence very high Coe price due to the restricted coe available as people put off scrapping their cars.

7. Wonder if more flexibility can be introduced to car quota while emphasizing charging based on car usage on road that are congested.

This is a more equitable way to price road usage rather than ownership.

Those who needs the car still can use it - while curbing their usage on congested roads.

[1:16 pm, 05/05/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

8. Thought the more equitable way to price car usage is via ERP II - whereby car once hit the roads will be charge according to road conditions.

For congested roads, higher ERP charges.

For less congested roads, less ERP charges.

Under ERP II, Coe quota will be relaxed allowing more households to be able to own cars - and use it when necessary without clogging the roads - as cars are charge more by usage rather than with full weightage by ownership aka high Coe prices.

Straits Times UPDATED MAR 07, 2024, 12:23 PM

Govt open to idea of one-off increase in vehicle population with higher usage-based charges: Chee Hong Tat

The Government is open to reviewing the idea of a one-off increase in the total vehicle population spread over a few years, accompanied by higher usage-based charges to prevent congestion, said Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.

“This includes location- and time-based charges like our current ERP system, as well as the possibility of having distance-based charging in future, which some commentators have suggested,” Mr Chee told Parliament on March 5.

He cited how the Economic Review Committee in 2002 recommended a gradual lowering of car ownership taxes along with an increase in certificate of entitlement (COE) supply, and striking a better balance between ownership charges and usage charges.

Mr Chee said it is not feasible to rely only on usage-based charges to prevent traffic congestion, as “these would have to be set at very high rates, which might not be acceptable to many car owners”.

271. I post in REACH 7/3/24, 6:37 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

2. However I will like to comment on 100% medical coverage or 100% medical insurance coverage as a whole - that will bring about a "buffet syndrome" and runaway healthcare costs that happens in many countries until healthcare become unsustainable.

7/3/24, 6:46 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. The 1st thing the DPM Lee look at is how to reform the 100% medical coverage for civil servants - a very hot button issue and very unpopular with the civil servants.

5. At that time, I can see civil servants are angry about the medical reform that change 100% medical coverage to co-share (cannot remember the ratio, but I think is 90:10. 90% cover by government, civil servants pay 10%.

6. The justification is very simple, when medical fees are free, people abused it 

7. Any slight uncomfortable, people will visit the doctors and get all kind of medicine - because foc mah.

8. Then who pay, taxpayers pay tax like hell, and healthcare costs shoot up like rocket.

10. I as young officer, just join in fact felt that the new DPM is very brave and very wise - because he can see the big picture and ensure healthcare will be sustainable - and people use it when necessary - not abusing it.

12. After a while, everyone get use to it, and healthcare costs are contained.

8/3/24, 3:17 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

*Healhcare*

2. However, there are very commendable effort by the Minister of Health to address the high healthcare cost and take very intricate efforts to look into new innovative efforts to tackle serious illness like cancer and keep treatment affordable - and make it available not only to the rich but also to the poor.

3. The effort is not to give treatment at all cost in a irresponsible manner (to the extent of bankrupting the nation to save one live) ---- and then make many thousands lives run out of fund - and sacrifices the lives of many more lives - in a "Misplaced Compassion" ---- but "Compassion with Wisdom" ---- by intricately reduce the treatment cost for serious illness like cancer to a sustainable manner and make it widely available to all the people regardless of income status.

This is a hallmark of a Wise and Responsible Minister (not an irresponsible absurd one for one selfish individual and sacrificing the lives of thousands).

4. A high praise for the Minster of Health.

CNA news 09 Mar 2024 10:51pm

Health Minister reiterates call for private insurance firms to be more disciplined.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has reiterated his call for private insurance firms to be more disciplined in designing their policies, as over-generous coverage is partly driving up higher healthcare costs now, along with an ageing population.

272. I post in REACH 8/3/24, 2:06 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

*B. CyberSecurity to tackle Online Scam*

1. Online scams have been causing tremendous monetary loss to victims.

2. Government have come out with various measures to shield population from online scams and the situation is getting better though some scams still manage to slip through.

3. But overall, the majority of the population are protected. The improvement is very visible.

4. Specifically, the measures that deserves mentioned are Moneylock in banks, restrict CPF withdrawal limit, anti-malware apps, anti-scam police and bank unit, Telco blocking of

Straits Times UPDATED MAR 13, 2024, 09:41 PM

She said that in 2023, scam losses in Singapore did not spike further for the first time in five years. Likewise, she noted, there was a reprieve in ransomware cases last year.

“While losses due to scams and ransomware are still considerable, the upward trends have hopefully been arrested and give us room to push back further,” she added.  

Scam victims in Singapore lost $651.8 million in 2023, a slight dip from the $660.7 million lost to scammers in 2022.

273. I post in REACH 10/4/23, 3:49 PM - ☸️  Danny 心: 

There are no international legislation for overseas countries to recover money loss through scam to pay back our local victims here.

10/4/23, 3:51 PM - ☸️  Danny 心: 

SPF say, money transfer out to overseas by scammers - very little chance to recover.

10/4/23, 4:08 PM - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Wondering how much Singapore police have recover scam money loss overseas?

$0 ?

10/4/23, 4:42 PM - ☸️  Danny 心:

Good.

Our national interest first.

Because no overseas countries will help us to recover our local victims loss to overseas bank. 

What we lost go into their own piggy banks.

Likewise we should safeguard our national interest first.

Payback our local victims first. <This message was edited>

Straits Times UPDATED MAR 13, 2024, 09:41 PM

Singapore pledges support for more global cooperation in helping fraud victims recover funds.

Singapore is among 11 countries that endorsed a statement released at the inaugural Global Fraud Summit pledging stronger collaboration between countries in the fight against fraud.

This is the first time a ministerial-level summit was convened for fraud and it took place in London on March 11 and 12.

Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo represented Singapore at the event.

Mrs Teo, who is also Minister for Communications and Information, said the summit shows there are considerable challenges in combating fraud – which is often a transnational crime – and highlights the need for countries to come together.

The statement, which was endorsed by countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and Australia, includes a commitment by the nations to find new ways to improve asset recovery, to strengthen international coordination in cracking down on criminal networks, and facilitate information sharing across borders.

Speaking to the Singapore media from London via a Zoom call on March 13, Mrs Teo said officials exchanged ideas with one another, and Singapore was recognised for its anti-fraud efforts.

274. I post in REACH 1/12/23, 3:14 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

I purposely, innocently go to an offshore bank - Maybank and ask can savings and FD be moneylock to protect against online scammers?

This is to "buat bodoh" - using customers pressure to press offshore banks also to do moneylock to protect bank customers.

Maybank officer say only local banks are doing moneylock but not offshore banks.

I say offshore banks also need to protect bank customers against online scammers.

The bank officer start to look panicky.

I say good to feedback to your bank management.

CNA news 20 Mar 2024 03:27PM (Updated: 20 Mar 2024 06:26PM)

At least three more major banks – HSBC, Maybank and Standard Chartered – are set to offer the “money lock” feature to Singapore customers as early as by the middle of this year.

The anti-scam security feature adds a layer of protection to accounts by allowing users to set aside portions of their funds that cannot be transferred digitally.

The move follows the introduction of the safeguard in November last year by major local banks DBS, OCBC and UOB.

275. I post in REACH 25/3/24, 1:21 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

7. Also we have many submarine cables landing sites invested by global IT companies - in which high speed fibres are installed in Singapore before spreading out to other Asia Pacific countries.

25/3/24, 1:23 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Hence our internet speed is the fastest in Asia Pacific region compare to other countries.

25/3/24, 1:36 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

With such high capacity submarines fibre optic cables - Big Data, massive backup data, training AI models - can move in high speed via the internet.

Many redundancies are build into the submarine cables landing sites - and can easily reroute to other redundant links if one submarine cable is cut.

Hence many data centres set up by foreign investors in Singapore.

25/3/24, 1:52 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. I remember I was in one neighbouring country doing consultancy work for a university to upgrade their entire campus infrastructure. (Not mentioning which one).

2. When I need to access the internet, I notice the speed is painfully slow.

3. I do a ping, and notice the latency run up to thousands of milliseconds.

4. When I do a trace-route, I notice that it do do many hops to various countries before it reaches the intended destination.

5. When I checked with their IT staff, they told me such speed is a norm. They quite used to it. I was amused with their answer.

6. However, when I do the same while in Singapore, I noticed that the destination to anywhere in the world, the internet speed is relatively fast and fewer hops.

7. This is one of the main reason why many data centres operators from overseas want to set up shops in Singapore.

Straits Times UPDATED MAR 27, 2024, 10:54 AM

It's not your imagination: Internet in Singapore really is faster than in other countries.

Ever wondered about slow connectivity when you travel overseas? This is how Singapore’s digital “mega-highway” results in fast and reliable Internet, while helping to keep your data safe.

Indeed, the majority of our Internet is crafted from cables. When you browse the web, the data is transmitted wirelessly as signals to Wi-Fi routers. However, this wireless transmission ends as soon as it reaches these devices. From there, the routers are interconnected with servers and data centres via a vast network of subterranean optical fibre cables spread across Singapore.

These cables extend far beyond our island. Along the coastlines, landing stations connect these land-based cables to an even more extensive network of cables embedded in the ocean floors. This continuous chain of cables allows data to travel across oceans, bridging continents.

Instead, our devices can share lengthy Telegram and Twitter messages and high-definition videos instantaneously across the globe. This modern communication is facilitated by more than 500 active and planned undersea cables strung across our planet's oceans and continents.

Singapore plays a vital role in this global network, currently hosting nearly 30 of these cables, linking us to continents as far off as Europe. These cables work relentlessly, transmitting multiple signals across various frequencies concurrently. This method, known as broadband, is akin to a high-speed expressway with numerous lanes. It stands in stark contrast to the era of screechy dial-up Internet, which could be likened to a local road with limited lanes and slow-moving traffic.

How does it happen so easily in Singapore?

Venturing beyond Singapore's borders, you may find yourself frustrated by a noticeably slower Internet experience. Web pages and applications might take longer to load, and YouTube videos might pause to buffer or play at a lower resolution. This difference is hardly surprising, given that Singapore is regularly named one of the world's fastest broadband nations, according to the Speedtest Global Index report by Internet metrics company Ookla.

276. SK and I post in REACH 17/4/24, 3:44 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

My close friend comments:-

If employee wishes to work for 4day, does the guideline fairly protect the employer to reduce the employees pay and benefits by 20%? 

And if employee refuse, can employer terminate this employee?

Sigh, just don't kill SMEs...

17/4/24, 12:15 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

2. Feel that bigger companies will have more leeway to implement FWA - as human resources are less tight, and remote access equipment will be more available.

3. SMEs will be less likely to implement FWA - as manpower are tighter, less likely to spend money to setup remote access servers, maintain IT functions and facilitate remote login, video conferencing etc. 

17/4/24, 1:14 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

6. Hence the only feasible way for FWA to succeed in SMEs is to subscribe to cloud services offer by cloud services provider and Telcos - who can keep IT professionals and then provide services to a big pool of SMEs that subscribe to their remote access services. <This message was edited>

17/4/24, 2:26 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Government cannot just mandate WFH and FWA - and all SMEs comply.

I think 90% of SMEs will close shops the next day - and all SMEs workers will lose their jobs overnight.

CNA news 18 Apr 2024 02:46PM (Updated: 18 Apr 2024 04:25PM)

If flexible work hours become the norm, Ms Tan said she may have to hire more workers from Malaysia where manpower costs could be four or five times lower than Singapore, and farther abroad.

The only reason not to do that would be if Singapore-based candidates have skills that candidates across the Causeway cannot match, and she was concerned that is increasingly not the case.

“Singaporeans, we really need to level up,” said Ms Tan. “I’m just a small company. Bigger companies will be thinking the same thing.

“Why do I need to hire full-time staff now if there are flexi-work hours? Might as well I gather a pool of talent, I pay them by the hour,” she said.

Mr Felix Sim, the founder of blockchain venture builder Salad Ventures, put this another way: “The ‘local’ premium will soon become irrelevant for most businesses.”

If flexible work arrangements become the norm, employers can grow their teams remotely, reducing their dependence on locally based employees, said Mr Sim.

“It will start to be more challenging for employees to look for a job … because employers will now truly compare their abilities and pay package against possibilities of hiring remotely overseas.”

277. I post in REACH 2/5/24, 1:48 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

c. Geopolitical tension, protectionism with less emphasis on trade, investment and business, isolationism, decoupling, disruption of global supply chain, tech disruptors - are all adverse elements that have are brewing which directly impact how we trade, how we invite investment, how we manufacture, operate our Economy and business and how it create jobs for Singaporeans.

Trade is 3 to 4 times of our GDP - that give us prosperity and wealth - and create value added business and jobs for us ---- and what is happening in the World - work against us.

Hence, we will need a very strong incumbent Government team to help Singaporeans identify niches, opportunities that sprout out here and there - seize the opportunities and ensure Singaporeans continue to enjoy the continous peace and prosperity for many decades since Independence.

We cannot afford to have political destraction - that happen at home - which will not help us - but derail our Government who need all hands on deck - to seize all opportunities that come our way or sniff out overseas.

Straits Times 

“The world is very different from when we started with the FTA 20 years ago. But trade will continue to be an important part of the global economy that will allow goods to be transferred and business to be done,” he said, smiting the doom scenario about trade that has gained traction today.

“It may not be the same as 20 years ago; a lot more attention is being paid today to national security, to supply chain resilience,” said Mr Gan, in a reference to the heightened geopolitical rivalries and protectionist policies that have hurt global trade prospects.

“So, there will be a restructuring and repositioning of the trade and supply chain network. And in the process, there will be opportunities,” he said.

“As the hub, we want to be a key node in the supply chain. And if we are able to find a niche in it, then we can play to our strength in being the trusted partner in the supply chains,” he said.

“We are discussing with the US, for example, how Singapore can participate in the supply chains of many of its industries,” he added, noting that about 6,000 American companies operate in Singapore.

At the dialogue, Mr Gan noted the shift in attitudes from 2004 – when countries were working to reduce trade barriers – to today, when they are divided by geopolitical tension between the US and China, as well as wars and conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

“Increasingly, national security has been a key consideration; sometimes, it overwrites economic considerations,” he said, adding that the result is “a lot more export controls, import controls and restrictions on technology”.

Singapore, a small country with an open economy, has to improvise, leveraging its key element of trust, said Mr Gan.

278. I post in REACH 6/12/23, 3:44 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Previously in our generation, tech disruptor and business disruptor are happening less often.

Workers are able to work until 50 years old - with less career disruption up to 50 years old (where age discrimination take over - and disrupt mature workers).

But as workers already work for more than 20 years old - many are able to finance and pay off.

Eg. Previously, the income ceiling criteria is $10,000 combined income.

EC, Condo - cost less than $1 million -- about $600,000 (very good condo already) - during our genetation

Assuming bank loan interest is 3%, loan + interest = $618,000 estimated for easy illustration.

20 years loan = $2,575 per month to service the loan.

2. So a young couple $10,000 salary per month, even if wife decide to be housewife to look after the children, husband earn $5,000 -- pay $2,575 - still got $2,425 per month to put food on the table and pay essential services.

(Last time, $2.50 got png cai, got big bowl of noodle to eat).

3. Tech disruptors and business disruptors less potent and less frequent - young couples can pay off the housing loan when they can work beyond 20 years - and pay off the housing loans.

(Our parents generation can even work longer until old age - more than 60 years, 75 years then retire - no career disruption)

Then income ceiling criteria of $10,000 to prevent high income workers from applying HDB flats make some sense - because HDB flats are subsidised.

4. But now with tech disruptors, business disruptors and specifically AI disruptors - the career disruption will be very frequent - 2 years, 3 years? --- as AI disruption is very fast.

Then imposing income ceiling criteria to force $14,000 income earners to buy EC, condo, landed properties doesn't make sense - because this policy assume young couples can hold on the jobs for more than 20 years - with monthly combine income of $14,000 per month for 20 years.

(Note:- even our generation, this assumption already cannot take hold, because notice a good minority of people already start losing jobs or get disrupted in the 40s).

I will come out with calculation illustration to illustrate my this point later.

----

1. For example, I search the web yesterday, and get inputs from my cohort private chatgroup, this is the information I get.

2. EC - $1,400 psf, for a 5-room EC size equivalent 1,200 sq ft = $1,680,000 (3% interest bank loan for 20 years) = $1,730,400 = $7,210 per month loan + interest need to be repaid every month.

3. Private condo - $2,000 psf, for a 5-room EC size equivalent 1,200 sq ft = $2,400,000 (3% interest bank loan for 20 years) = $2,472,000 = $10,300 per month loan + interest need to be repaid every month.

(Don't even have to talk about landed properties ---- exorbitant prices and loan).

4. Now the income ceiling criteria is $14,000 (both couple working) $7,000 each.

Assume wife become housewife to look after the children, husband only bring in $7,000.

- EC $7,210 - $7,000 salary how to pay? Short of $210 every month, don't even have money to buy food and essential necessities.

- Condo $10,300 - Couple still owe $3,300 every month, no money for food and essential services.

5. If AI disruptors come in, both couple lose jobs, where to find money to repay housing loans - short of borrowing from loansharks?

6. Even if both couples bring in $14,000 - pay $10,300 housing loan for private condo - couple only left $3,700. 

At this current high inflation, can buy food, children education, parents allowance, MCST maintenance fees ($300 to $500 per month), pay transport, healthcare, groceries, baby milk, baby diapers etc etc etc?

7. Even if both couples bring in $14,000 - pay $7,210 housing loan for private condo - couple only left $6,790. 

This EC couples will have more breathing space as compared to EC household - but with high inflation, very little help from the government --- they will also have little left for savings and retirement. 

(Note :- the income criteria is $14,000 to $16,000 - and not many can qualified.

Even if qualified, both couples must work to fetch $14,000 to $16,000 per month.

Wife cannot stop work to care for children.

Both couples cannot lose their jobs for 20 years and must consistently fetch $14,000 to $16,000 per month.

Is this assumption realistic with AI disruptors and tech disruptors - that disrupt jobs 2 to 3 years?)

8. Unlike BTO flats, these group of Singaporeans don't even get GST voucher, COL voucher, SCC rebates, town council rebates --- only very recently - but get alot less as compare to BTO flats household.

9. This is the group of Singaporeans - which is the most neglected, most ignored sandwich "so call high income" group (that received the least attention by the government) with the following characteristics:-

a. Pay the most tax.

b. Get the least benefits.

c. Buy the more expensive private houses.

d. Laden with high housing loans debt.

e. Lock out from most of the privileges.

f. Prevent from applying for the public houses.

g. But they are called "local talents" that the country needs.

10. Hence I will like the Government to seriously ponder over this feedback, understand the concerns face by this group --- and consider scrapping the "Income ceiling criteria" to apply for BTO flats ---- by replacing it with income ceiling $14,000 and beyond, pay full BTO flat without subsidy.

Else, I fear Singapore will be losing many local talents --- as it will drive many local talents to other Countries -- that squeeze their neck constantly to finance their exorbitant housing loans.

BT Published Mon, May 13, 2024 · 01:54 PM

HDB flats: Give those ‘forced’ to buy resale units the chance to buy BTO flats.

Let singles buy larger BTO flats and high-income couples buy BTO units with safeguards.

279. I post in REACH 13/5/24, 3:03 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Smartphone use as display unit rather than replacing the obu is feasible.

Except the challenge of screen saver come on, need passcode to open, need to activate ERP 2.0 apps, when someone call the handphone - disruption occur, people SMS or WhatsApp etc.

Also if forget to remove the smartphone from the car dashboard, the smartphone will be fried due to the high temperature - as most if not all IT equipment are not AEC-Q100 compliant - cost will be too high and not relevant in the context of IT equipment.

Hence make more sense to install the display unit that are able to withstand the high temperature. <This message was edited>

13/5/24, 3:31 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Also why the 3 pieces ERP 2.0 unit look bulky - because it is ruggedised to withstand vibration, shock, heat, dust - and ensure its lifespan due to fragile electronics part, chips.

Hence it doesn't look nice and elegant compare to a nicely design smartphone or tablets.

CNA 14 May 2024 04:24PM

LTA pointed to Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat's parliamentary reply to Louis Chua's supplementary question on May 8. Mr Chua had asked if the new OBU meets the Automotive Electronics Council Q100 (AEC-Q100) requirements for reliable operations in Singapore's climate. 

Mr Chee answered that the LTA had conducted "quite a comprehensive set of tests", including climate and crash tests.

"The AEC-Q100 standard is used to measure packaged integrated circuits used in vehicles, such as the chips used in the in-car entertainment system.

"AEC-Q100 focuses on the quality of individual components and is not meant for devices that comprise many components that are put together."

The relevant standards that the OBU was tested against were the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC-60068 and IEC-60529 - two standards widely used to test the operational reliability of electronic or electrical devices, said LTA.

To achieve qualification against these standards, the OBU passed a wide range of tests including temperature and humidity.

"When properly installed, it is safe and reliable to use in our operating environment," said LTA.

280. I post in REACH 3/5/24, 1:46 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

In addition, the OBU unit need to install in a car whereby temperature can soar very high - subjected to the stress of nature elements.

Any IT people can vouch that IT system are very sensitive to heat.

At 40 degree Celsius, IT equipment, servers, processing units will start to fail.

Severs will do automatic shutdown to prevent the system from malfunctioning.

So for ERP 2.0 OBU to operate inside the car, whereby temperature can rise above 50 degree Celsius and yet continue to function properly is no mean feat.

So don't make fast conclusion that LTA staff have no intelligent staff.

They are far more intelligent and resourceful than we thought they are not. 

13/5/24, 3:03 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Smartphone use as display unit rather than replacing the obu is feasible.

Except the challenge of screen saver come on, need passcode to open, need to activate ERP 2.0 apps, when someone call the handphone - disruption occur, people SMS or WhatsApp etc.

Also if forget to remove the smartphone from the car dashboard, the smartphone will be fried due to the high temperature - as most if not all IT equipment are not AEC-Q100 compliant - cost will be too high and not relevant in the context of IT equipment.

Hence make more sense to install the display unit that are able to withstand the high temperature. <This message was edited>

CNA 14 May 2024 04:24PM

The processing unit of the new OBUs, also called the card reader, functions "like a mini-computer" and generates heat when it operates, said LTA.

"It is different from devices like the existing IU and vehicle dashcam, or other components of the OBU like the antenna and touchscreen display," it said.

"These are either passive devices or do not have the same computing functions as the processing unit. A more relevant comparison to the processing unit is the smartphone, which is also a mini-computer."

LTA added: "If you leave your smartphone in a holder near the dashboard for a few hours under the hot sun, it could overheat and stop working temporarily. The phone will display an error message stating that it can only be used after the device has cooled down."

It pointed to a technical advisory issued by Apple on May 3, which advised users that their devices should be stored between -20 to 45 degrees Celsius, and that devices should not be left in cars because temperatures can exceed this range.

"It is the same reason why LTA does not recommend placing the processing unit on the dashboard, as the temperature at this location could reach 50-52 degrees Celsius on a hot day, compared to 38-39 degrees Celsius at the footwell," said LTA.

281. I post in REACH 24/6/24, 3:06 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Singapore do have contingency plan, training of various defence forces, emergency response team and maritime response team ---- conducting annual mobilisation exercise on real live scenarios.

2. Such exercises are done internally across the various related government agencies and private contractors.

3. And sometimes, such exercises are done bi-laterally or multi-laterally with friendlly neighboring countries.

4. I recall Singapore do conduct join maritime exercise with Malaysia, specifically Johor.

5. Hence I am not surprised with the 11 minutes response time, and the subsequent ramp up of all government and private contractors effort to contain the oil spill - as such emergency scenarios have been trained on and mobilisation conducted.

6. However, this oil spill provide a valuable lessons for our maritime response team --- and lessons learned can be incorporated to our contingency plan to make our future response even better.

Straits Times PUBLISHED JUN 24, 2024, 05:00 PM (UPDATED JUN 24, 2024, 07:29 PM)

He said Singapore has a well-established set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for oil spills, and it conducts oil spill response exercises every two years. The last one was conducted in 2022, with the next exercise planned for October 2024.

“The quick response and capabilities of our agencies are due to the strong interagency cooperation and collaboration built up over the years,” Mr Chee added.

“For this incident, our SOP has been effective. And our agencies, industry partners, and volunteers have done well.” 

282. I post in REACH 24/6/24, 2:30 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. I recall last week in a food court, I witness someone accidentally topple a large coke with the lid on.

Luckily, the lid is still intact, but quite a large volume of coke spill out from the small opening of the coke.

It spread around the floor in a split second (without wave helping the spread unlike in the sea).

The first reaction, the woman immediately pick up the topple coke and put it upright. This stop the spill immediately.

Then I notice the spill flow under the table in my direction (without the help of the wave) - and this is about a few seconds - before I can even understand what is happening.

By the time, i start to cognized the entire incident, I realise the spill has already spill to underneath her table and stop there without coming to mine.

The spill also go to her neighboring table up front.

The cleaner, a young China national male happen to walk past. He immediately calm the woman down not to panic, look around the mess and survey how far the spill spread, to which areas. Notice the spill spread to 2 tables underneath. Only after he did a detail survey, before he walk towards the back of food court, and come back with a yellow "water caution" sign and a mop.

This take about 5 minutes to do so.

So in total, without the help of the wave in the sea, the spill damage coverage is 2 tables - and this take up about 10 minutes to stop the spill and assess the damage.

Then the cleaner start to place the "caution sign" at a strategic location to warn people, shift the chairs from the 2 tables and start to mop the floor.

All these take about 20 minutes.

In total, 30 minutes to clear the mess.

My assessment is, at the split second when the coke drop, the spill take place and the spread of the coke on the floor ---- it is about a few seconds. (Even without the help of the sea waves).

5. The strong waves will have already start to spread the oil spill.

CNA news 24 Jun 2024 05:16PM (Updated: 24 Jun 2024 06:18PM)

An oil spill is not the same as spilling coffee onto the floor, the minister said.

“If you spill coffee on the floor, the coffee will remain there, you can go get a mop and clean,” he said. “Oil that spills into the ocean, especially if it’s a sudden discharge, a large amount, like what happened on Jun 14, the oil will not remain stationary.

As deploying the containment boom around the oil spill would take several hours, "we must expect a significant amount of oil that is spilled in the sea to be carried by tidal currents and waves to other locations".

Thus the main purpose of the containment around the damaged vessel is not to “fence in” the oil that has been spilled but a preventive measure in case of further leaks from the damaged vessel.

“The containment boom can also help catch some of the oil spill which remain in the vicinity of the incident location and did not float elsewhere. But this is also not 100 per cent foolproof, because the tidal currents and waves can carry the oil to go below and above the booms,” he said.

As to why the booms were not pre-emptively deployed to prevent oil from reaching beaches, he said it is simply not feasible to deploy booms along the entire coastline of Singapore.

283. I post in REACH 24/6/24, 2:58 pm - ☸️  Danny 心:

6. Before deploying more resources to contain the spread of the oil spill, accurate surveillance will be imperative --- and this will need aerial surveillance such as deploying drones, as well as sea surveillance, surrounding coastal surveillance - which involve deploying - I believe hundred of trained workers - even with the help of advanced technologies.

Because strong waves can spread the oil spill unpredictably in all directions.

What i read from overseas oil spill --- is equally daunting. And usually, the damage is far more devastating - because rescue team are far less organised than Singapore. It takes many months to clean up the mess.

7. Only after detail surveillance on the spread, can the appropriate resources and manpower be deployed to tackle the spill --- in fact an all government agencies effort and private sector efforts, and community efforts activated to contain the spread.

CNA news 24 Jun 2024 05:16PM (Updated: 24 Jun 2024 06:18PM) 

So, MPA would first assess the movement of the oil before deploying the booms.

“MPA had therefore deployed vessels and crew to monitor surrounding waters signs of oil while it alerted other agencies to step up monitoring of the coastline,” he said.

It also used predictive modelling of where the oil would move based on tidal predictions and real-time weather data, as well as predictions using satellite images.

“This targeted approach is consistent with international practice, and ensures that the booms available are placed where they can be most effective,” he said.

“They had to make sure first of all that the vessel is safe, it will not be at risk of sinking, the crew are okay (and) the damaged tank would not have continued spillage of oil,” he said.

He added that the authorities also did not know where the oil would go. 

“You don't quite know at that point in time where you will float to, so therefore, which of the shores and the beaches will be affected.”

284. I post in REACH 24/6/24, 3:15 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Hence comparing the impact of our current oil spill - versus those happen overseas who are much developed, much endowed, much technological advance - I commended that our Government effort in containing the current oil spill is commendable - for in just 2 weeks -- the oil spill is stopped, spread is contained and cleanup have be done so fast and so extensive - except some crevices, nook and cracks.

2. Our planning, preparation, yearly training and live exercises with real scenarios --- have make our maritime emergency response team on the tip-top position.

3. Kudos must be given when due.

24/6/24, 3:35 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Correspondingly, Singapore take 2 weeks to almost clean up the major portion of the polluted coastlines.

Now only left some crevices, cracks and nooks.

So in comparison, Singapore containment of oil spill is indeed commendable.

Our planning, preparation and yearly training make our response team done a superb job 👍。

CNA news 24 Jun 2024 05:16PM (Updated: 24 Jun 2024 06:18PM)

Government agencies have done well in oil spill clean-up, SOPs effective: Chee Hong Tat

285. I post in REACH 15/3/24, 12:36 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

100% medical coverage feed buffet syndrome and people being greedy and reckless - will abuse it.

This is the ugly side of human nature.

Government making policy must first address this headon - by inducing co-payment so that people feel the pinch and will only use it when necessary, and use it responsibly.

This is human nature.

Government must tackle it from a psychological angle first. <This message was edited>

15/3/24, 12:42 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Even if the medical cost come out to $10,000 treatment, co-payment of 10% is $1,000.

If people is so rich to go private hospitals, cannot even afford $1,000 co-payment - rather than abusing it and bankrupt the nation and the people?

REACH (15 Jul 2024) 

Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung, speaking at the Securities Investors Association (Singapore)’s – Sias – 25th anniversary members’ night, said that Singapore needs to break the health insurance vicious circle or the escalating healthcare costs it creates will make paying for healthcare very painful.

Minister Ong added that the Ministry of Health (MOH) needs to rein in the current unhealthy buffer syndrome enabled by generous insurance policies and that this will be done through the Claims Management Office, set up in 2022 to ensure that claims are appropriately made.

💬 What are your views on Minister Ong’s comments on health insurance? What else can we do to promote a more informed citizenry on healthcare costs?

📌 Insurance as a driver of rising costs

Naming insurance as a key driver of rising costs, Minister Ong said companies need to take a hard and realistic look at their product design, and rein in generous and unsustainable benefits such as no limits on claims and very low co-payments. He added that competition among insurance companies has aggravated the buffet syndrome and is pushing up healthcare costs, yet the latest financial reports of these companies show they are hardly making profits on their health insurance portfolios.

286. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [19/7/2024 1:17 PM]

Singapore trade is 3 times our GDP - close to a trillion.

Hence Singapore economy - external economy based on trade is very large.

We need to be connected to the rest of the world as the world market is close to US$101.3 trillion.

Our trade is close to $1 trillion.

If we are not plugged into the world bodies like wef, WTO, global banks, IMF etc - to influence their policies or get 1st hand feedback from the global bodies in business, in trade, in economic development - then how do Singapore bring foreign investment, trade into our shores?

Our global hub port, air ports, manufacturing hub, IT hub, finance hubs, and whatever hubs are contingent with how we do business with the globe.

Unlike US, China, EU, Japan and India with very large domestic economy - from $3 trillion to $16 trillion, to $21 trillion , to $23 trillion - Singapore GDP domestic economy is very small.

We can't depend on our meagre small domestic economy US$466 billion, a small population of 5.65 million for our survival much less fetching the 3rd highest GDP PPP per capita.

A large portion of our GDP are from external economy not domestic economy.

The world population is about 8 billion people, a huge market for our goods and services.

Singapore only 5.65 million.

How to close our economy and hide in a turtle shell?

Joining wef work to our advantage - all the more when geopolitical tensions, growing isolation, growing protectionism arises.

US can close its economy and still can survive.

Singapore, a little red dot cannot.

We must open and get connected to the world to survive and thrive.

CNA news 19 Jul 2024 07:22PM (Updated: 19 Jul 2024 07:23PM)

“We expose ourselves by involving ourselves overseas so intensely economically, politically and diplomatically. So much that the distinction between the internal and external is becoming almost zero, and I think that makes us very vulnerable (to such threats),” he said of Singapore’s position in the world.

287. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [19/7/2024 1:17 PM] :-

Actually this FICA is one of our 5 pillars of total defense - in fact 6 now:-

1. Psychological Defense.

2. Digital Defense.

These 2 defense are against asymmetrical attacks that can change the whole landscape of a country stability if we are not careful - without even firing a bullet.

孙子兵法 - exploiting Psychological Defense is the highest form of warfare.

Because the greatest attack come from within.

Hence we must beef up and guard our - Psychological Defense and Digital defense - as the infiltration and attack are 无形， 无极 (Virtual, Permeable) and seep unconsciously to the mind and heart of the population without even conscious about it.

CNA news 19 Jul 2024 07:22PM (Updated: 19 Jul 2024 07:23PM)

For Assoc Prof Singh, it was always just a matter of time before FICA was to be operationalised in this manner towards such a threat.

“I think the new war is not with bullets. The new war is in cyberspace, in this kind of soft wars. The majority of our population are digitised, so this is the arena where the changing of the hearts and minds, influencing people, manipulation and dissemination of misinformation, is taking place,” he said.

“We need to be very demonstrative in our actions. And I think we are. What we are doing is really good. We need to, in fact, overkill just to make sure that it has a deterrence value,” he added. 

Assoc Prof Singh cited the setting up of Digital Defence as a new pillar of the country’s Total Defence approach back in 2019, as a positive step.

288. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 3:40 PM]:-

4. Usually, the Internet segment - should also not turn on "auto software updates" for the Public Web Servers if using Microsoft OS.

QA (Quality Assurance) and stringent stress test (usually in a QA, Test or Development Segment) - are run that emulate the live system.

Only when the tests are successful, before the public Web servers are updated with the new updates or fixes.

5. Change control form needs to be filled, signed by testers, system administrators and operation manager - before the new fixes or software updates can be updated in the live public web servers.

6. Only when the servers run successfully after a few days without hiccups, similar process are repeated for updates in the Intranet servers that run the Microsoft OS.

CNA news 23 Jul 2024 06:00AM (Updated: 23 Jul 2024 07:04AM)

It’s particularly surprising that despite numerous past lessons, like the TSB IT migration disaster in 2018 that affected millions of customers of the UK bank, a staggered software rollout was not employed.

289. SK post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 2:41 PM] :-

My close friend comments:-

1. For crisis similar to Friday's worldwide blue screen, the fallback is manual process. IT redundancy will duplicate current systems, upon need, failover to the redundant systems whether it be on hot or cold standby.

2. In particular to Friday's event, why were patches/upgrades rolled out stealthily without announcements and on a worldwide scale.? Has to be a mistake?!!!

3. Software companies have so many patches. Microsoft will grade them according to severity. The patching has to be done through managed processes like regular scheduled downtime. Bring up the systems steadily and let them go live again.

5. So redundancy is a  narrower way to look at this. Deep thinking on business continuity is the crux of today's topic.

6. Can't leave it to general discussions, because business owners who know their businesses will then have to think where are their costly failure points engaged relevant professional to design their BCplans.

I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 3:40 PM]:-

4. Usually, the Internet segment - should also not turn on "auto software updates" for the Public Web Servers if using Microsoft OS.

QA (Quality Assurance) and stringent stress test (usually in a QA, Test or Development Segment) - are run that emulate the live system.

Only when the tests are successful, before the public Web servers are updated I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 4:09 PM] :-

*3. Resiliency and Redundancy within data centre and across primary and secondary data center*

1. Resiliency and Redudancy must be built within a primary data centre and across a (or more) secondary data centre.

2. In the event if a server in the primary data centre go down - eg. through software updates, the down server can be automatically isolated and the redundant server bring up within the primary data centre.

6. We will deploy what we call "3DNS" or Global Load Balancer (GLB).

When software updates crash all the Web servers in the 1st primary data centre, the GLB or 3DNS will detect down data centre in ping or apps dummy transaction.

GLB or 3DNS will then flag the DNS resolution of URL to IP address to primary data centre is down and unavailable.

GLB and 3DNS will then redirect all public users access to the IP address of the secondary data centre through DNS resolution of URL to IP address of Public Web Server in the 2nd data centre (whereby "auto software updates" is turn off).

Hence, public users will still be able to access the web services at the secondary data centre ---- without downtime or disruption --- even though the primary data centre is completely down.

I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 6:17 PM] :-

But still must be thoroughly tested in the QA environment before roll out.

Also need to conform to ITIL change control procedures before update.

There also must be a backup plan to roll back if update fails.

If all these processes are comply with, usually software updates are quite safe.

CNA news 22 Jul 2024 05:52PM (Updated: 22 Jul 2024 07:03PM)

Benjamin Ang:

There are a lot of theories that the quality assurance wasn't tight enough for this particular (outage). 

Benjamin:

It would be good to have things like resilience drills, like we have fire drills, emergency drills, so that we practise it. But also realise that we are functioning in a world that is way faster than human beings are able to.

Gaurav Keerthi:

I know we make fun of the manual boarding passes. I'm not a big fan of the manual workaround either. There could be digital systems in place to take over, but you also must accept that these take time to kick in.

This is what we call a failover process. If your primary system fails, what's your backup plan?

=======

Taking stock - successful Contributions in Open Forum 

Weng Cheng Ye

Ricky Lim

So which ward do we expect to see you representing the ruling party in the next election?

Your accounting/financial analysis prowess put me to shame.

南无阿弥陀佛🙏🙏🙏

Like · Reply · 9m

Ricky Lim

Weng Cheng Ye - ha ha ha...

I am not from accounting or financial background.

Also, I am not into politics.

I am a neutral person & not with any party - just wanting to ensure that our Country is doing well and Singaporeans and residents are living well.

Like · Reply · 1m

Jimmy Hui

Weng Cheng Ye, "Ricky Lim" account was set up for a group of people to rebut any criticism of the ruling party. That is why you probably find him amazing with his long stories and analysis and he can talk on anything (a group of people is behind the account).

A neutral person & not with any party - will not go to such extend and spent so much time justifying what the ruling party did is always correct. "He" will remain anonymous and talking to him is as good as talking to a bot.

Save your time...

Like · Reply · 12h

Ricky Lim

Jimmy Hui - Ricky Lim is one and only one person - not associate with any party.

Also I am not always with the Ruling Party.

Anything that is done correctly I will support - whether is Ruling Party or Opposition Party.

Anything that is not done correctly, I will propose what should be the correct things to do.

Eg. SingHealth cyberattack - I propose my solution how to stop the APT attack.

President Trump and President Kim visit to Singapore on denuke talk - I propose Sentosa instead of Shangrila. And I am very please that the MFA, MHA, Mindef etc are very effective and efficient to host and ramp up organisation skills and security skills to protect the foreign dignitaries and ensure a successful talk.

It shows that if the security forces (a combined integrated forces of the Home Team, Air, Land, Sea, Air defense - at short notice) can protect Sentosa (a pilot test of protecting an island and the gateway), they can protect Singapore.

Foreign Policy of "Friends with All. Adversaries with None. Forge mutual benefits with Win-Win outcome." - is my proposed foreign policy principle.

Changing police revolver to magazine load handgun to combat terrorism - is also my proposal.

 Using rail sensor to proactively to detect track fault with central monitoring instead of "eyeball" track fault is my proposal.

Section 377A - I also propose my opinion of Explicit lens and Implicit lens.

ITM - Industry Transformation Map and centralised online Job Portal to resolve the disruptive tech that disrupt business and jobs - is my proposal.

Social Entrepenurship Hawker Centre with at least 1 cheap dish per stall is also my proposal.

And many others. such as Mention 苏东波 尿 can be evaporated and become drinking water in 1990s - become Newater in 2000.

My view is for the good of Singapore - which is Party neutral.

Just happen that I agree with about 90 to 95% of the view that is held by the Ruling Party - does not means that i am the Ruling Party social media spokesman.

I write what is best for Singapore, what is most pragmatic that works, not what is most popular but that will sink the Country.

Like · Reply · 1m

Jimmy Hui

Ricky Lim, after all that you've wrote and with so much of your proposals implemented, you expect anyone to believe you are "one and only one person"? If you are one person, you must be a super human cos you seem to have tremendous in-depth knowledge on everything under the sky. A super human like you should have joined (or may be you already have) a political party and with your credentials and foresights could easily be leading Singapore by now. Why just stay anonymous and gave all the above proposals for free? YOLO (you only live once) so why not make use of your life to show what you can do for society (and singapore) since you have such a great heart for the country and the people? I almost thought you're a reincarnated LKY :)

I still find it hard to believe you are "one and only one person" you claimed. Even if you're a one person, you're no ordinary guy. I suspect you must be a top notch civil servant (active or retired) unless you're some kind of prodigy /genius who choose to stay anonymous - what a waste! The fact that you do not have a face to your account and your usual staunch support of the ruling party, suspicion of your party affiliation is obvious and as for me I still suspect it's a group of people behind that "Ricky Lim". Sorry for not respecting your name (if it's your real name) and your "one and only one person" claim. Chao!

Like · Reply · 16h

Ricky Lim

Jimmy Hui - Ha ha ha...

Well "Ricky Lim" - indeed is "one and only one person".

You say "Ricky Lim" is a super-human - with in-depth knowledge ----- well there are many capable people in the Civil Service and the Ruling Party possessing such breadth and depth knowledge. I am certainly not a reincarnated LKY in which I have the full respect - that is too much a compliment.

As for why give my proposals free --- well the Buddha also give his immense knowledge free to the World - for the sole purpose of "liberating human sufferings to benefit the Universe".

Singapore is doing very well under a very capable Party - that even earn the respects of the World.

Singapore is not undergoing a crisis. There is no need to have another Mr LKY.

Many of the policies from the Ruling Party - are pragmatic, solving the real problem of Singapore and bring the Country forward - except some fine tuning needed that have fall off the crack.

Like · Reply · 1m

Jimmy Hui

Ricky Lim, not only have I said you seem to have in-depth knowledge of everything under the sky, you are also a master of modern warfare (y). Good strategies and imaginations (y).

Like · Reply · 9m

Ricky Lim

Jimmy Hui - Our Sovereignty have been trampled on and a direct threat are make on us.

We must stand up and use our assets to the fullest - to deter any threat directed at us.

We must not let our adversary go away with the idea the Singapore can be bullied !

Under this multiple layer of naval and air defences --- do you think that old man can intrude into our water territories?

We can also rest our naval guys and air force guys = with 24 hours patrol deploying unmanned stealth warships along our territorial water.

Like · Reply · 1m · Edited

Jimmy Hui

Ricky Lim, for all your brilliance and in-depth knowledge of everything under the sky coupled with a great heart for the well being of Singaporeans, I can't help but think that you are also deeply programmed by the ruling party. As such you have lost your fairness as an observer in such politicking.

====

REACH Telegram

17 Jul 2024

286. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [19/7/2024 1:17 PM]

Singapore trade is 3 times our GDP - close to a trillion.

Hence Singapore economy - external economy based on trade is very large.

We need to be connected to the rest of the world as the world market is close to US$101.3 trillion.

Our trade is close to $1 trillion.

If we are not plugged into the world bodies like wef, WTO, global banks, IMF etc - to influence their policies or get 1st hand feedback from the global bodies in business, in trade, in economic development - then how do Singapore bring foreign investment, trade into our shores?

Our global hub port, air ports, manufacturing hub, IT hub, finance hubs, and whatever hubs are contingent with how we do business with the globe.

Unlike US, China, EU, Japan and India with very large domestic economy - from $3 trillion to $16 trillion, to $21 trillion , to $23 trillion - Singapore GDP domestic economy is very small.

We can't depend on our meagre small domestic economy US$466 billion, a small population of 5.65 million for our survival much less fetching the 3rd highest GDP PPP per capita.

A large portion of our GDP are from external economy not domestic economy.

The world population is about 8 billion people, a huge market for our goods and services.

Singapore only 5.65 million.

How to close our economy and hide in a turtle shell?

Joining wef work to our advantage - all the more when geopolitical tensions, growing isolation, growing protectionism arises.

US can close its economy and still can survive.

Singapore, a little red dot cannot.

We must open and get connected to the world to survive and thrive.

CNA news 19 Jul 2024 07:22PM (Updated: 19 Jul 2024 07:23PM)

“We expose ourselves by involving ourselves overseas so intensely economically, politically and diplomatically. So much that the distinction between the internal and external is becoming almost zero, and I think that makes us very vulnerable (to such threats),” he said of Singapore’s position in the world.

287. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [19/7/2024 1:17 PM] :-

Actually this FICA is one of our 5 pillars of total defense - in fact 6 now:-

1. Psychological Defense.

2. Digital Defense.

These 2 defense are against asymmetrical attacks that can change the whole landscape of a country stability if we are not careful - without even firing a bullet.

孙子兵法 - exploiting Psychological Defense is the highest form of warfare.

Because the greatest attack come from within.

Hence we must beef up and guard our - Psychological Defense and Digital defense - as the infiltration and attack are 无形， 无极 (Virtual, Permeable) and seep unconsciously to the mind and heart of the population without even conscious about it.

CNA news 19 Jul 2024 07:22PM (Updated: 19 Jul 2024 07:23PM)

For Assoc Prof Singh, it was always just a matter of time before FICA was to be operationalised in this manner towards such a threat.

“I think the new war is not with bullets. The new war is in cyberspace, in this kind of soft wars. The majority of our population are digitised, so this is the arena where the changing of the hearts and minds, influencing people, manipulation and dissemination of misinformation, is taking place,” he said.

“We need to be very demonstrative in our actions. And I think we are. What we are doing is really good. We need to, in fact, overkill just to make sure that it has a deterrence value,” he added.

Assoc Prof Singh cited the setting up of Digital Defence as a new pillar of the country’s Total Defence approach back in 2019, as a positive step.

288. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 3:40 PM]:-

4. Usually, the Internet segment - should also not turn on "auto software updates" for the Public Web Servers if using Microsoft OS.

QA (Quality Assurance) and stringent stress test (usually in a QA, Test or Development Segment) - are run that emulate the live system.

Only when the tests are successful, before the public Web servers are updated with the new updates or fixes.

5. Change control form needs to be filled, signed by testers, system administrators and operation manager - before the new fixes or software updates can be updated in the live public web servers.

6. Only when the servers run successfully after a few days without hiccups, similar process are repeated for updates in the Intranet servers that run the Microsoft OS.

CNA news 23 Jul 2024 06:00AM (Updated: 23 Jul 2024 07:04AM)

It’s particularly surprising that despite numerous past lessons, like the TSB IT migration disaster in 2018 that affected millions of customers of the UK bank, a staggered software rollout was not employed.

289. SK post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 2:41 PM] :-

My close friend comments:-

1. For crisis similar to Friday's worldwide blue screen, the fallback is manual process. IT redundancy will duplicate current systems, upon need, failover to the redundant systems whether it be on hot or cold standby.

2. In particular to Friday's event, why were patches/upgrades rolled out stealthily without announcements and on a worldwide scale.? Has to be a mistake?!!!

3. Software companies have so many patches. Microsoft will grade them according to severity. The patching has to be done through managed processes like regular scheduled downtime. Bring up the systems steadily and let them go live again.

5. So redundancy is a  narrower way to look at this. Deep thinking on business continuity is the crux of today's topic.

6. Can't leave it to general discussions, because business owners who know their businesses will then have to think where are their costly failure points engaged relevant professional to design their BCplans.

I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 3:40 PM]:-

4. Usually, the Internet segment - should also not turn on "auto software updates" for the Public Web Servers if using Microsoft OS.

QA (Quality Assurance) and stringent stress test (usually in a QA, Test or Development Segment) - are run that emulate the live system.

Only when the tests are successful, before the public Web servers are updated I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 4:09 PM] :-

*3. Resiliency and Redundancy within data centre and across primary and secondary data center*

1. Resiliency and Redudancy must be built within a primary data centre and across a (or more) secondary data centre.

2. In the event if a server in the primary data centre go down - eg. through software updates, the down server can be automatically isolated and the redundant server bring up within the primary data centre.

6. We will deploy what we call "3DNS" or Global Load Balancer (GLB).

When software updates crash all the Web servers in the 1st primary data centre, the GLB or 3DNS will detect down data centre in ping or apps dummy transaction.

GLB or 3DNS will then flag the DNS resolution of URL to IP address to primary data centre is down and unavailable.

GLB and 3DNS will then redirect all public users access to the IP address of the secondary data centre through DNS resolution of URL to IP address of Public Web Server in the 2nd data centre (whereby "auto software updates" is turn off).

Hence, public users will still be able to access the web services at the secondary data centre ---- without downtime or disruption --- even though the primary data centre is completely down.

I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 6:17 PM] :-

But still must be thoroughly tested in the QA environment before roll out.

Also need to conform to ITIL change control procedures before update.

There also must be a backup plan to roll back if update fails.

If all these processes are comply with, usually software updates are quite safe.

CNA news 22 Jul 2024 05:52PM (Updated: 22 Jul 2024 07:03PM)

Benjamin Ang:

There are a lot of theories that the quality assurance wasn't tight enough for this particular (outage). 

Benjamin:

It would be good to have things like resilience drills, like we have fire drills, emergency drills, so that we practise it. But also realise that we are functioning in a world that is way faster than human beings are able to.

Gaurav Keerthi:

I know we make fun of the manual boarding passes. I'm not a big fan of the manual workaround either. There could be digital systems in place to take over, but you also must accept that these take time to kick in.

This is what we call a failover process. If your primary system fails, what's your backup plan?

290. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [29/7/2024 3:55 PM] :-

4. Conversely, NTUC Income start off as a Cooperative to perform social services and mission..

But due to the nature of Cooperative - its structure restrict NTUC Income ability to grow, make profits - to benefits policyholders, shareholders and the Government - as it cannot raise liquidity easily due to its cooperative business structure (whereby Insurance business is capital intensive). Also it cannot achieve size advantage, go overseas to expand its business and achieve Economies of Scale.

Hence, we can see NTUC Income market share is a meagre 10% for a decade - without the means to growth.

Imagine, NTUC Income can only conduct its business domestically, and can only capture 10% of domestic market - it means its other insurance competitors (many are foreign global insurance conglomerates) have captured 90% of the domestic insurance market --- keeping NTUC Income viable and not closing shop - is already a miracle.

If nothing is done now, all the goodies health plan, saving plans offer by NTUC Income - can one day go down and close shop.

Now NTUC Income asset values are still healthy - merging at such high points will lock in a high values for NTUC Enterprise - as Allianz are willing to pay a hefty $2.2 billion for the shares - a good bargain for NTUC Enterprise.

I believe, NTUC Income will soon able to offer good health plans and saving plans not only to Singapore but also many countries market - with a low cost base as all our plans have already been cost in when planning for Singapore market - the upside revenue base will be very high for NTUC Income if we merge with Allianz.

CNA News 30 Jul 2024 05:00PM (Updated: 30 Jul 2024 05:55PM)

A social enterprise model alone "cannot shoulder" growth in Singapore's competitive insurance environment, NTUC Enterprise said in a statement on Tuesday (Jul 30). 

More than 40 global, regional and local insurers are fighting for growth in Singapore, said the majority shareholder in Income Insurance, which received an offer from German insurer Allianz for 51 per cent of its shares.

"Despite putting in very competitive bids, Income Insurance lost out on several key contracts to its global and regional competitors, such as in bancassurance, the Dependants' Protection Scheme and group insurance for a large public organisation," said NTUC Enterprise, which currently holds 72.8 per cent of Income Insurance's shares.

This proves that "strong and continuous capital support and resilience" are needed for growth, it added.

And the proposed deal with Allianz would allow Income Insurance to tap the global company's expertise in asset management and technology and product development, the statement said.

"This will strengthen the future competitiveness of Income Insurance vis-a-vis the global and regional insurers operating in a highly competitive and open Singapore market," said NTUC Enterprise.

He said the co-operative model is no long effective given Income's competitive ambition and growth plans, but NTUC Enterprise will remain a substantial shareholder to provide direction towards the social outcomes, in line with the principle of doing good and doing well.

Social enterprises and co-operatives are no longer unique in doing good - more businesses are embracing stakeholder capitalism in their corporate purposes, said Mr Lim. 

"Going forward, NTUC Enterprise intends for Income Insurance to continue to be an important financially sustainable and socially responsible business, in line with its enduring purpose of empowering financial well-being for all," he said.

Income Insurance needed not just a financial investor, but an experienced global player who can help it thrive, NTUC Enterprise said.

The combination of Income Insurance's strengths and Allianz's global capabilities can create a "highly competitive composite insurer", the statement reiterated.

"These capabilities and expertise have convinced NTUC Enterprise to cede a majority stake to Allianz."

291. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [31/7/2024 12:04 PM] :-

1. NTUC Income must be financially strong in the face of about 40 global & local insurance companies competing - to be able to successfully bid for insurance contracts and benefits Singaporeans.

2. If no economies of scale, NTUC Income despite putting competitive bids - are unable to win insurance tender.

3. Hence NTUC Income has always been languishing in 10% of the market share in domestic market for a decade.

4. It is a miracle that NTUC Income is still surviving.

5. In other words, global insurance companies are able to put in lower premiums for Singaporeans than Income because of Economies of scale.

LCL (Danny 心), [31/7/2024 12:33 PM]

1. Comparing DBS market share with NTUC Income.

2. DBS has a dominant consumer banking franchise in Singapore, and a strong consumer position in Hong Kong, Asia’s two most developed and bestregulated markets. In Singapore, through the acquisition of POSBank, DBS has about 60% market share in savings deposits and more than four million customers, over 90% of Singapore’s population.

3. DBS can do well domestically in Singapore and in fact has break into regional markets building itself up to about $743.4 billion assets values.

4. NTUC Income on the other hand only able to corner Singapore insurance market for 10% for a decade, $41.9 billion assets values as oppose to DBS 60% to 90%.

NTUC Income is 17 to 18 times smaller than DBS in assets values.

A miracle that NTUC Income still surviving.

6. NTUC Income market -  Singapore only - a miserable 10% market share only.

LCL (Danny 心), [31/7/2024 12:59 PM]

1. NTUC income as a co-operative, and a domestic company that can only operate in Singapore market is like 2 hands tie behind the back and enter into a boxing ring - to fight world boxers.

2. Cooperative is very restrictive, unable to raise capital like other corporate, confine to social objectives but yet got to take on global corporates without such restrictions - withe strong financial muscle, competitive market discipline and corporate structure with economies of scale to take on NTUC Income in tender bidding - of course NTUC Income will get hammer left, right and center until 黑眼睛。

3. Corporatising NTUC Income in 2022 only free up 1 hand - but still get hamtam by the global insurance competitors - how a $41.9 billions company beat the global $1 trillion companies with economies of scale?

4. Only through partnership with Allianz can free NTUC Income both hands - to get into the boxing ring with a fair fight.

As all NTUC Income disadvantage will be neutralized.

LCL (Danny 心), [31/7/2024 2:11 PM]

Having say so, economically, financially - NTUC Income must be able to be viable first.

Without this assurance, whatever social missions, objectives and services cannot be materialised.

Because if NTUC Income cannot compete and close shop, how to fulfill its social missions, objectives and services?

This is something very basic, very fundamental.

LCL (Danny 心), [31/7/2024 2:15 PM]

Having say so, raising those concerns about social missions and objectives to our local Singaporeans for an answer is the next logical step -

With NTUC Income viability and survivability fully address, out of the picture and not threatening its survival.

CNA News 31 Jul 2024 05:03PM

Crispina Robert: 

Okay, so from a business point of view, tell me why this is a good deal. Why does it make sense for Income (Insurance) to merge with Allianz?

Professor Lawrence Loh:

Beyond the capital injection, the price that was offered by Allianz, $40 something (Singapore) dollars. It is really very significant premium over their net asset value per share, almost 37 per cent premium, which is something I would say is irresistible.

But having said that, I think even with the current model as a corporate entity, and even with a new owner with a majority stake, they can still maintain their social character. Sometimes companies even label themselves as a social enterprise.

But we must understand that beyond social there's still this word called enterprise. It's good to do good, but I think you have to do well, to do better.

Steven Chia:

So social enterprise means you got to make money before you can give money away, right?

Prof Loh:

If you are not financially sustainable there's nothing to talk about in governance, you cannot even help other people if you cannot help yourself.  

Steven:

Was Income (Insurance) in a way, in not such a great shape, in the sense that they needed some of the support otherwise, eventually, if they stayed on their own, would they maybe even die out at some point in time?  

Prof Loh:

No, let's look at it in perspective before they became corporatised, and I have made some computation. Their rate of growth as a co-operative is actually much lower than the rate of growth of the finance and insurance industry. So we thought that corporatisation could turn the situation around, but in fact, the revenue from premiums did not go up. It actually went down.

Crispina:

Income (Insurance) is technically one of the big four, "too big to fail”. The narrative seems to be that this would have helped them make (more) money. But were they not competitive, or are there just more players in the field?

Eddy Cheong:

Firstly, the insurance thing has become very competitive over the years. Over the last 20 years, there are many new insurance players coming in:  Aviva, FWD, China Taiping and so on. And when these players come in, the market share of individual insurance becomes smaller.

And with competition, (companies) tend to undercut each other and the margin gets very thin. In order to remain very competitive, you need to bring the price down to very little.

When Income (Insurance) started in 1970, (its) growth was phenomenal.  

Crispina:

When it was a majority player, so to speak, when there were less people in the playground?

Eddy:

That's right ... Over last 20 years, based on the report, their market share has dropped to less than 10 per cent on average over the last 10 years.

292. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [6/8/2024 3:49 PM] :-

NTUC income as insurance company can only rely on capital ie. $$$$$$$$.

It is just dumping money money money to make it grow for NTUC Income - but with a small domestic market, and overseas markets have plenty of insurance products to buy from, no guarantee that by continuing pumping taxpayers money will make it grow because what they need are customers and premium receipt - insurance products is not exactly a strategic company.

CNA News 06 Aug 2024 07:27PM

FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE

But social enterprises must be sustainable financially, said Mr Tan.

"If a social enterprise cannot sustain itself financially and government subsidy is needed to prop up the entity, then we will have to consider whether such a service ought to be provided by the government. 

"Taxpayers must also be prepared to pay their share of taxes to fund the service," he added.

293. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [25/7/2024 10:59 AM] :-

In fact some commercial insurance companies offer more competitive insurance packages than income.

Eg. Manulife offer 3.5% Saving plan.

Income offer 3.38%.

CNA News 06 Aug 2024 07:27PM

MOS Alvin Tan  noted that the premiums for several of Income's schemes are not the cheapest in the market.

294. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 12:17 PM] :-

1. Automatic updates of changes in the operation software without proper testing and quality assurance - is a very dangerous move - as any new updates or fixes could come with software bugs or programming errors.

2. Usually safeguards need to be in place before such updates to live system can take place.

4. IT infrastructure also need to be design to shield critical systems from external updates without QC - eg. Intranet infrastructure for internal systems from external system - Internet infrastructure.

LCL (Danny 心), [22/7/2024 4:14 PM]

*4. Change Control and System update procedure (Including QA and Testing Procedure)*

2. QA (Quality Assurance) and stringent stress test (usually in a QA, Test or Development Segment) - needed to be crafted and any changes to the IT system need to be run in this envirionment that emulate the live system before actual updates.

Only when the tests are successful, before the public Web servers are updated with the new updates or fixes.

3. Change control form needs to be filled, signed by testers, system administrators and operation manager - before the new fixes or software updates can be updated in the live public web servers.

4. Only when the servers run successfully after a few days without hiccups, similar process are repeated for updates in the Intranet servers that run the Microsoft OS.

CNA news 07 Aug 2024 05:05PM

Responding to parliamentary questions about the CrowdStrike crash in July, Minister Josephine Teo said agencies must also put quality assurance measures in place to ensure that software changes will not introduce errors in critical systems. 

For example, this includes testing software updates in controlled settings before they go live and deploying software changes progressively before rolling them out widely. 

“This usually allows us to catch and isolate issues early, but I say usually, because it doesn’t happen all the time. There are ways in which the system components interact with each other that are not always possible to map out so clearly,” she added. 

295. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [7/8/2024 12:50 PM] :-

Notably the students mobile devices, iPad was hacked through MDM (Mobile Device Management) - which suppose to be remotely secured by endpoint security.

But in this case is compromised.

Not much information on how MDM are hacked because usually very stringent and secure authentication processes are in place to prevent hackers from accessing remote devices.

The hacking seems to have broken this myth.

LCL (Danny 心), [7/8/2024 2:29 PM]

*MDM Security Hack*

1. MDM (Mobile Device Management) that encompass BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a technology that comprise the following security measures :-

a. Users (Students) will bring their own device (eg.. iPad, HP or notebook) or School issue devices to access the schoolwares that are hosted in Cloud Providers.

b. Through WiFi, 4G or 5G or even LAN connection (UTP RJ45 connection) for laptops, users device will undergo a security posture assessment -- whereby the system will check the devices security posture eg. latest firewall version and patches, latest anti-virus signature updates, latest OS updates and patches.

c. If the security posture assessment passed, it will alllow access to the cloud service providers servers that host the school courseware.

d. Else, if the security posture assessment fail, it will be thrown into a Quaratine VLAN to undergo Remediation - e.g latest firewall patches, OS latest patch, anti-virus signature patch.

Once completed will be alllowed access to the cloud service providers servers that host the school courseware.

If Remediation fail, will be thrown into an Isolation VLAN - whereby school IT administrator will examine the reasons why it fails and rectification can be made.

e. After gaining access to the cloud service provider servers, the server will download a "Golden Clone" of VM (Virtual Machine) to the student device that comprise of individual student courseware notes and homework.

These VM are usually very safe because files or software in the devices cannot access or infect the VM courseware - as the VM is a secured container.

f. Hence I quite puzzle why is there a mass failure of students not able to access their devices and when they do, lose all their courseware homework and notes.

g. The only explaination is that the hackers could have hacked the cloud provider's servers or VMs.

Thought cloud service provider's cloud infrastructure should be well protected by a slew of security protection eg. firewall, proxies, IPS, end security in servers, APT protection, SIEMs (defense in depth) - that would have prevented hackers will compromising the servers.

Hence not sure if cloud providers have such security deployment.

h. Assume all the defense in depth is in placed and yet hackers still can penetrate (must be very skillful hackers) - I thought cloud providers should have backup all the students' VM in the cloud every day - as once the students completed their assignment in the courseware, VMs will be pull back by the servers,

So cannot imagine how come some students can lose all their homework and notes?

Didn't the cloud providers do daily backup of their servers into a backup storage - which should be a standard procedure?

I think MOE should verify with the cloud providers - why no backup to all students courseware, homework and notes - that can be recovered after the hacking.

Then no students will lose all their courseware, homework and notes.

CNA news 09 Aug 2024 08:33AM (Updated: 09 Aug 2024 12:37PM)

As a mobile device management solution, its main purpose is to control and manage mobile devices remotely. It assumes “full control” over the devices and there is a high level of trust towards the software and the server that is used to manage the clients, said Mr Kevin Reed, chief information security officer of cybersecurity firm Acronis.

Schools need robust backup and recovery procedures to quickly restore students’ work and applications, as well as clear and concise response plans to deal with such disruptions, he added. 

“We’re definitely dependent on a digital world, so … more planning in terms of business continuity, backing up is important.” 

Schools can also consider a two-tiered data backup policy, conducting a full back-up every three months or less, and incremental backups – updating your backup every time new changes are made,” Ms Chan said. 

296. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [21/8/2024 3:02 PM] :-

*New HDB flat policies to tackle rising price while ensuring affordability*

3. However, the Government noted that overall, the prices of the HDB flats are creeping up as the land price premium go up, inflation go up and the positive economic conditions go up.

This means 1st time HDB flats owners will be facing difficulties to own a flat for marriage and raise a family.

Hence, increasing housing grants to make HDB flats affordable will be a good move to ensure 1st HDB flats owners can own a flat to raise a family and bear babies.

4. Noted that housing grants help HDB owners to be able to afford owning houses, but not a profit for HDB owners.

If HDB owners eventually sell the flats after MOP, the housing grants will need to be given back to the Government.

(But having say so, thinking aloud..... Government fiscal budget pocket are pretty deep.......  as Government are able to finance many initiatives to help the people e.g, increasing housing grants, retrenchment temporary support grants, GST and CDC vouchers........ Hmmm)

CNA news 23 Aug 2024 05:00PM (Updated: 23 Aug 2024 06:48PM)

Responding to a reporter's question about how the Budget will be adjusted to accommodate the additional expenses, Mr Wong said: "We will find the budget ... a lot of the initiatives that we are undertaking under Forward Singapore, which I've announced, will require additional resources."

He added that the government had already started thinking about rising expenditure requirements due to ageing populations and rising social expenditures, and knew that it would have to put in place tax changes and adjustments to ensure sufficient revenue for the medium term.

297. I post in REACH (Telegram) 27/10/23, 11:41 am - ☸️  Danny 心: 

2. Will hope government highlight more life cases of such successful training and placement scheme through SkillsFuture - so that Singapore workforce will feel confident that it is a mainstream programme to ensure mid career workers are ensure of continuous training and career - without fear of losing jobs but unable to recover.

3. Training allowance given to trainee during training in SkillsFuture will thus be necessary - as they still can put food on their table for the family without a job and paid daily expenses without worry and anxiety.

4. Successful placement upon training in skillset that are trained - will signify SkillsFuture is a success - and a recognition by industries that SkillsFuture is mainstream training conduit for mid-career to train, recognise and change jobs.

CNA news 23 Aug 2024 05:00PM (Updated: 23 Aug 2024 06:48PM)

A "clear illustration" of this is how his team thought about unemployment benefits, he said. 

"It's something that the government, all this while, for many, many decades, has had reservations about. For good reasons, because we have seen how unemployment insurance in other countries has led to negative effects.

"But it doesn't mean that we cannot do something different in Singapore, appropriately designed for our circumstances and well-designed to minimise the negative effects we've seen elsewhere." 

During his National Day Rally speech, Mr Wong introduced a new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme to help lower- and middle-income workers with temporary financial support if they lose their jobs. Job seekers will get up to S$6,000 (US$4,600) over up to six months while they go for training, job matching and career coaching.

"(The scheme) allows us to find that right balance, doing something different, something new. But at the same time, putting in place appropriate conditions that will also require individuals to do their part, to work hard, to get career coaching, to get skills training and job management."

298. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [18/8/2024 10:42 PM] :-

1. I feel that GEP program in every schools rather than consolidating every students in GEP school - is a good effort to make every schools a good school.

2. Also preventing elitism from arising - especially if parents are under pressure to squeeze their children into elite schools.

3. In fact, my fear of making our children turn elitists is my motivation to put my child into neighbourhood schools.

4. It reduces parents and children pressure to squeeze our children into elite schools.

It also helps children to be able to operate in a microsom of variety of children in various abilities to embrace diversity.

Rather than be mothball into a cocoon of one elite species - which I feel is not so good for the development of my child.

Diversity allowing more empathy.

LCL (Danny 心), [19/8/2024 12:47 PM] :-

1. Making every schools a good school rather than consolidating gifted students into some elite schools will have the merits of:-

a. Not giving the parents and children to scramble to enter the elite schools.

Creating elite schools will trigger parents and children to behave in a social consciousness of elitism - trying all ways and means such as buying houses close to elite schools lah, alumni lah, donation lah, pressure children to excel until parents and children mental stress lah, see MPs, see Ministers lah - die die must go elite schools lah etc. 

Then when inside elite schools, parents and children mental stress again - cannot keep up with the pace of those super-elites.

c. Unwittingly creating a social class and cementing social class inequality - by distinguishing elite schools from neighbourhood schools.

It is precisely what I told my child, if you are good, whatever schools you attend, you will excel.

No need to crave to enter elite schools and trigger unnecessary stress.

The approach is proven to be sound & set an example for my siblings children to follow.

CNA news 23 Aug 2024 06:00AM

As a parent, I'm relieved that the Gifted Education Programme is getting revamped

The dismantling of distinctions between GEP and non-GEP schools may persuade some Singaporean parents that they do not need to move near a popular primary school for their child’s sake, says mother-of-two Lara Tung.

A popular tuition centre near my home charges S$1,000 a month to prepare children for the Gifted Education Programme’s (GEP) maths syllabus.

The centre boasts a high admission rate to the GEP, if parents are willing to dish out S$12,000 a year in tuition fees.

It seems ironic to send a child for GEP prep courses - if a child were gifted, he or she would not need coaching to qualify for the programme.

Parents with more resources can afford tutors to help their children gain entry into the “best” programmes.

It is no wonder that fewer than half of GEP students live in HDB flats, according to a written parliamentary reply by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing in 2022.

In a 2005 survey, former GEP students admitted that they preferred to associate only with each other, felt ostracised by their peers and struggled to relate to non-GEP students.

School-based high-ability programmes could take this a step further. Students could learn alongside like-minded peers while staying connected with old friends. Remaining part of a community they’re familiar with may give higher-ability learners more opportunities to interact with students of different backgrounds.

299. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [21/8/2024 3:02 PM] :-

*New HDB flat policies to tackle rising price while ensuring affordability*

1. Notice that those million dollars flats are mainly big flats eg. 3-gen flats, masionette, DBSS flat or 5-room flats.

No matter how high the household income is per month, the household will still need to borrow loans either from HDB/CPF or from banks.

Many are not possible to pay say $250,000 (25% of $1 million) cash upfront for a resale flat.

Hence reducing LTV (loan-to-value) from 80% to 75% - that means buyers abilities or willingness to fork out $250,000 upfront instead of $200,000 will be reduced.

This will make lesser buyers to want to pay $1 million flats - as buyers are unable to borrow more loans to pay for the flats dampening demand.

This is an attempt to manipulate with the Demand side of the Demand-Supply curve.

This dampen the Demand side of the Demand-Supply curve - shifting demand curve from top right to bottom left (ie.. reduce demand) - HDB price fall.

======

CNA news 24 Aug 2024 06:00AM (Updated: 24 Aug 2024 03:27PM)

The latest cooling measure is not meant to stifle transaction activities, but it could instil prudence in buyers of high-priced resale flats. The 5 per cent reduction in LTV is small, but the cumulative 25 per cent upfront payment could moderate buyers' irrational sentiment and exuberance. 

For example, someone considering a S$1 million resale flat would now be required to make a higher initial down payment from S$200,000 to S$250,000.

300. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [21/8/2024 3:28 PM] :-

2024 HDB finance

For $500,000 BTO flats, taking a HDB loan for 20 years, assume an interest rate of 2.60%, HDB owners will need to pay $2,137.50.

Take home pay $10,869 - $2,137.50 = $8,731.50 - to survive for daily expenses after paying housing loan

So household income - vis-a-vis affordability of housing loan - comparing 1960s-1970s to 2024 --- our population are not worst off.

LCL (Danny 心), [23/8/2024 2:42 PM]

*To close the loop on last topic, in a married family of single income - can afford 5-room BTO flat*

Taking the high side of 5 room flats = $480,000

Minus housing grants = $50,000

Remaining price = $430,000

Take a 20 years loan at 2.6% HDB/CPF loans = $1,838.25 loan installment a month payable to CPF.

A single income graduate (after 3 years of job) = $5,000 (starting pay $4,600).

Self CPF 20% + Employer CPF 17% = $1,850

No cash outlay - single income can pay for a 5 room flat (at 50 years old flat fully paid).

If take 25 years loan (service up to 55 years old), lagi affordable $1,470.60 repayment a month.

Fully payable by CPF.

No cash layout.

(Hence single income cannot afford a 5-room flat is not a true statement.)

====

CNA news 24 Aug 2024 06:00AM (Updated: 24 Aug 2024 03:27PM)

For a typical medium-income household earning S$5,000 per month and eyeing a BTO flat of S$500,0000, the down payment would increase by S$25,000 from S$100,000 to S$125,000 with the reduced LTV limit. However, it would receive S$65,000 under the new EHG, more than enough to offset the increase in down payment.  

301. I post in REACH 15/3/24, 12:25 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Healthcare costs form one of the largest component in Singapore fiscal budget a whooping $27 billions projected in 2030.

2. It is not peanut.

3. If our government don't manage our healthcare costs carefully and let it run like a buffet syndrome, soon Singapore will have no budget for GST voucher, no budget for defense, no budget to support Singaporeans job, no budget to build coast line defense that will flood the Singapore etc.

So Singaporeans look at the whole budget and decides for yourself.

Allow healthcare costs to be abused by a privilege few, or use it wisely - so that all Singaporeans can live and survive well taken care of in every aspects of our lives.

Managing the healthcare costs well is as important as managing our reserves well - so that it will not be abused by some ignorant people - and bankrupt our nation.

When I literally say, don't bankrupt our nation, I literally mean it - by just looking objectively at the cost of healthcare!

15/3/24, 12:36 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

100% medical coverage feed buffet syndrome and people being greedy and reckless - will abuse it.

This is the ugly side of human nature.

Government making policy must first address this headon - by inducing co-payment so that people feel the pinch and will only use it when necessary, and use it responsibly.

This is human nature.

Government must tackle it from a psychological angle first. <This message was edited>

15/3/24, 12:42 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Even if the medical cost come out to $10,000 treatment, co-payment of 10% is $1,000.

If people is so rich to go private hospitals, cannot even afford $1,000 co-payment - rather than abusing it and bankrupt the nation and the people?

====

CNA news 25 Aug 2024 06:00AM

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singapore-healthcare-costs-insurance-plans-premiums-government-spending-budget-4563726#:~:text=To%20contain%20spiralling,Han%20Fook%20Kwang

To contain spiralling healthcare costs in Singapore, we must remove the original sin

Depending on what your needs are, an “as charged” healthcare insurance plan can either be the best thing you ever signed up for or a national financial disaster, says former veteran newspaper editor Han Fook Kwang.

A LAVISH BUFFET OF CLAIMS

“As charged” means the insurer will cover any claim that is sanctioned by a doctor or hospital. Some people have likened healthcare insurance to an eat-as-much-as-you-want buffet. You’ve already paid for it, so you binge eat what’s on the table, especially the most expensive items like fresh oysters.

But “as charged” is even more lavish than this.

In healthcare insurance, that might mean the latest drugs or procedure as long as it is medically justifiable.

Doctors and hospitals love it because they can opt for the most expensive treatment and get paid for it by the insurer. Patients want it because they believe they deserve the best and have already paid for the plan.

As to be expected, after Aviva launched this product, all other insurers followed suit and “as charged” is now the default plan for the large majority. The problem is that it all has to be paid in the end, often through ever-rising insurance premiums and ballooning state budgets on healthcare.

These are the stark numbers: Government spending on healthcare quadrupled from S$3.7 billion in 2009 to S$15.2 billion in 2020, and is expected to hit S$27 billion in 2030.

302. I post in REACH 7/3/24, 6:46 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

3. When I was a young officer, the then PM Lee has just appointed as DPM by the then PM Goh Chok Tong.

4. The 1st thing the DPM Lee look at is how to reform the 100% medical coverage for civil servants - a very hot button issue and very unpopular with the civil servants.

5. At that time, I can see civil servants are angry about the medical reform that change 100% medical coverage to co-share (cannot remember the ratio, but I think is 90:10. 90% cover by government, civil servants pay 10%.

6. The justification is very simple, when medical fees are free, people abused it 

7. Any slight uncomfortable, people will visit the doctors and get all kind of medicine - because foc mah.

8. Then who pay, taxpayers pay tax like hell, and healthcare costs shoot up like rocket.

9. At that time, junior civil servants are very vocal openly voicing their displeasure.

10. I as young officer, just join in fact felt that the new DPM is very brave and very wise - because he can see the big picture and ensure healthcare will be sustainable - and people use it when necessary - not abusing it.

11. Of course I keep the thinking to myself, don't want to be whack by the seniors.

12. After a while, everyone get use to it, and healthcare costs are contained.

====

CNA news 25 Aug 2024 06:00AM

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singapore-healthcare-costs-insurance-plans-premiums-government-spending-budget-4563726#:~:text=To%20contain%20spiralling,Han%20Fook%20Kwang

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong last month spoke about the need to curb overtreating and overprescribing to rein in costs which have become unsustainable. In fact, the problem was recognised much earlier.

303. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [25/7/2024 2:51 PM] :-

Sometimes I wonder did our school and IHLs taught micro and macro economics to our students in Singapore?

The economic grounding of our people seems to be very weak.

And most discussion are layman and can't see the economic perspective.

LCL (Danny 心), [25/7/2024 2:59 PM]

Otherwise today's topic is not a big hoo ha if people are trained in economics.

This are macroeconomics and people can appreciate why income are reaching its saturation point as a nationalisation company.

The next step is to corporatise, merge or go acquisition as a natural step.

LCL (Danny 心), [25/7/2024 3:01 PM]

Singapore government and civil services very strong in macroeconomics and financial management.

That's why we do so well financially and economically.

LCL (Danny 心), [25/7/2024 3:04 PM]

In fact many arguments about nationalisation, low price etc won't surface in a macroeconomics class - because once the economic graphs and charts are produced, the economic return, growth etc - already point to Law of Diminishing returns.

The natural conclusion is what income are doing today.

In fact, the arguments against it will fall flat in the economic class.

LCL (Danny 心), [25/7/2024 3:06 PM]

From increasing return to Diminishing returns to negative returns.

If income still continues on its old path.

LCL (Danny 心), [25/7/2024 3:08 PM]

I think those economic professors will be laughing at our arguments here coming from the lay person.

Call economic fundamental traitor some more.

Economic professors will give those who suggest a big fat "fail" if they submit their arguments as a economic thesis or dissertation.

Like 外行人教內行人。

Some more 义正言辞。

====

Straits Times (UPDATED AUG 30, 2024, 10:14 PM)

Singapore will have to make tough economic policy choices to beat the odds and increase opportunities of growth and employment for its people, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Aug 30.

Speaking to economics students, he said economists can help the Government make those choices by assessing the potential trade-offs.

“Economists play a key role in supporting the Government’s policymaking, in developing our long-term economic strategies, monitoring near-term changes in our operating environment and informing our policy responses,” he said at the 16th MTI Economic Dialogue held at the NUS Shaw Foundation Alumni House.

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and local universities, the MTI Economic Dialogue is an annual event for students to gain insights into pertinent economic issues and challenges facing Singapore, as well as the role of economics in policymaking.

The theme of 2024’s dialogue is “Growing Singapore’s Economy Amidst Global Economic Fragmentation and Domestic Challenges”.

DPM Gan said that in the present challenging economic environment, economists can play a key role in supporting policymaking.

“Economists help us to understand through both economic theory and empirical evidence what drives productivity growth at the firm, sectoral and overall economy levels,” he said.

They can also assess whether there are market failures that necessitate government intervention; and recommend the strategies needed to achieve higher productivity growth over a longer period, he noted. 

304. I write in yahoo email to NTUC Fairprice Group, Aug 26, 2024, 18:08 GMT+8:-

This kopitiam drink stall every time did not issue a paper receipt that come with QR code to accumulate healthpoint for the customer.

Every time, customer needs to ask for the receipt.

If forgotten and later return to ask for the paper receipt, the stall owners will say throw away already.

But observe that the stall owner secretly keep it - suspect that they will scam the non issue receipts later to earn healthpoint that can be converted into cash.

Can the manager of the kopitiam ensure that all physical receipts must be given to every customer even if customers didn't request.

This is to ensure stall owners won't profit on customers receipts to earn cash.

----

From:

I@yahoo.com.sg

To:

FairPrice Group

Wed, 28 Aug at 10:41 pm

Hi, 

I visited the AMK kopitiam on 26 Aug about 4.30 PM.

It also happens on 28 Aug about 11am.

Note:- I do not want to describe a particular staff, because all the staff don't issue physical receipts all the time unless customers ask for it.

This practice also happens to other kopitiam like Sengkang mall.

It is a widespread practice.

I will urge a change in the system.

Instead of scanning a physical receipt on the healthcare QR code, should kopitiam consider QR code appearing on the kopitiam apps that tie in with healthy 365 apps.

This will eliminate the possibility of abusing the system by the staff and prevent such malpractice from creeping in.

Rgds

----

From:

I@yahoo.com.sg

To:

FairPrice Group

Sat, 31 Aug at 4:51 pm

Hi,

Thank you for addressing the issue promptly and comprehensively.

Since Mr LKY times, the Government has installed a system that will not allow officials and workers to have opportunity for dishonest practices and corruption.

This is the approach that make our Country honest, strong, survive and thrive.

Hence ensuring a system that cannot be exploited and abuse by staff - we will ensure our people adopt the right moral values and will not allow immoral practices to corrupt our system - and worst pass down from generation to generations.

All the more, Kopitiam under NTUC (a people Union) should set a good example for others to follow.

I applaud the right and prompt move to rectify the system.

Best Regards

====

From:

I@yahoo.com.sg

To:

FairPrice Group

Sat, 31 Aug at 4:51 pm

Hi,

Thank you for addressing the issue promptly and comprehensively.

Since Mr LKY times, the Government has installed a system that will not allow officials and workers to have opportunity for dishonest practices and corruption.

This is the approach that make our Country honest, strong, survive and thrive.

Hence ensuring a system that cannot be exploited and abuse by staff - we will ensure our people adopt the right moral values and will not allow immoral practices to corrupt our system - and worst pass down from generation to generations.

All the more, Kopitiam under NTUC (a people Union) should set a good example for others to follow.

I applaud the right and prompt move to rectify the system.

Best Regards

====

(Food Services)

Aug 31, 2024, 13:46 GMT+8

Dear,

Thank you for your feedback and apologies for the experience shared.

We will forward it to the relevant department to check on this matter.

Do allow us some time to get back to you.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Yours sincerely,

FairPrice Group Customer Service Team

www.fairprice.com.sg

For details on Link rewards programme, please visit www.link.sg

Need help? Visit help.fairprice.com.sg

Mon – Sun: 8:30am – 10:00pm

----

(Food Services)

Aug 28, 2024, 21:16 GMT+8

Dear,

Thank you for writing to FairPrice Group Customer Service.

In order for us to assist further, we would require details for investigation:

Outlet you visit

Date and time of visit

Brief description of the staff that you notice did not issue the receipt ( Hair length, Body size , any accessories)

We hope to hear from you soon. 

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

FairPrice Group Customer Service Team

www.fairprice.com.sg

For details on Link rewards programme, please visit www.link.sg

Need help? Visit help.fairprice.com.sg

Mon – Sun: 8:30am – 10:00pm

----

(Food Services)

Aug 31, 2024, 15:12 GMT+8

Dear,

Thank you for your patience.

We have addressed this issue with our team and reminded all staff to always provide receipts to customers. If a customer indicates they do not want the receipt, it should be discarded immediately.

Additionally, we are pleased to inform you that you can now link your Healthy 365 app with our FairPrice Group app. This allows you to earn Health Points automatically when purchasing items under the healthier choice category and paying using the FairPrice App.

For your reference you may refer to link below for more information:

https://www.fairprice.com.sg/go-digital-in-stores/earn-healthpoints-automatically/?srsltid=AfmBOopBQP-PF1IrQcGNl_U4UVVdxl6acOifYFObB4A7ZYeYOABWlZ-R

We hope the above clarifies.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

FairPrice Group Customer Service Team

www.fairprice.com.sg

For details on Link rewards programme, please visit www.link.sg

Need help? Visit help.fairprice.com.sg

Mon – Sun: 8:30am – 10:00pm

====

305. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 4:21 PM] :-

Agree that every jobs, including platform jobs must be self sustainable.

That's it must include full compensation package comprising the contribution to CPF and workman injury coverage.

In so doing, no jobs become a liability to the taxpayers whereby come retirement, housing and medical coverage - certain jobs such as the platform workers need to be cover by taxpayers money - because they fail to contribute to their CPF during their course of work with the platform operators.

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 4:53 PM] :-

In 2023, the median gross monthly starting salary of Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates in Singapore in full-time employment was 2,450 Singapore dollars.

Source:- Google.

ITE graduates with $2,450 a month also contribute to their CPF.

Hence cannot understand the logic why platform workers who do as well, some higher cannot contribute to their own CPF and provide them a peace of mind in their retirement, medisave and housing loans.

----

CNA News 10 Sep 2024 06:40PM (Updated: 11 Sep 2024 10:40AM)

Costs arising from providing platform workers with basic protections are "part and parcel" of doing business and are "no different in nature" from what other employers are already incurring, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon. Under the new law, platform workers such as delivery riders and private-hire and taxi drivers will be better protected from 2025. 

They will see higher Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions to support their housing and retirement adequacy, work injury compensation and representation in union-like associations.