REACH (Telegram) 22 - What are your thoughts on these new initiatives? How else can the Government and various stakeholders increase the use of mother tongue languages (MTLs) amongst young people?

(SK)

16 Sep 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 9:45 AM]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 10:01 AM]

📢 Topic 📢

More students will be allowed to study mother tongue languages – Chinese, Malay or Tamil – at a higher level in secondary schools as part of a series of efforts being rolled out over the next few years to shore up bilingual education. From 2026, students who do well in the subject in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be able to take higher mother tongue languages (HMTLs) in Secondary 1, regardless of their overall PSLE score.

💬 What are your thoughts on these new initiatives? How else can the Government and various stakeholders increase the use of mother tongue languages (MTLs) amongst young people?

Speaking at the Mother Tongue Languages Symposium on Sept 14, Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing acknowledged how English proficiency is necessary, but is on its own not sufficient for Singapore’s society given the importance and benefits of MTLs to Singapore.

He also provided more details on the thrust to improve MTL learning first outlined by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his maiden National Day Rally speech in August.

To better tackle the declining proficiencies of mother tongues and preserve bilingualism, MOE will increase efforts to expose students to MTLs earlier in life.

📌  New structured reading programme for primary schools

A structured reading programme, also known as MTL Soar, will be rolled out progressively to all levels in primary schools by 2029 - Primary 1 and 2 pupils will have 30 minutes of their mother tongue curriculum time set aside weekly for reading and library activities. 

It will be differentiated according to the learning needs of students, with those who are stronger reading books that are richer in content and that can stretch their learning. Those who need more support will have books that are more accessible for them.

📌  Scaling up of existing pilot programmes in MOE kindergartens

Minister Chan said that under a pilot programme in two MOE kindergartens – MK@Hougang and MK@Elias Park – the daily curriculum time dedicated to these languages will increase from one hour to 1½ hours from 2025, adding how more must be done to take the use of MTLs out of the classroom and to leverage technology such as artificial intelligence to improve language learning.

📌 Benefits of promoting and preserving bilingualism in the long haul

Some pupils are already taking part in a pilot of the MTL Soar programme through an initiative known as Reading Passports, where they are given a document containing fun activities to complete after reading books. Primary 1 pupil Ganeshram Jaikumar is one such student, whose mother noted how the programme has increased his confidence in Tamil as well as motivated him to "start conversations with his grandparents and great-grandparents, by asking them to read the books with him.”

On its wider implications, Minister Chan said that “the ability to speak two languages and understand two cultures enables us to maintain a strong link to our heritage and forge connections with people around the world”. Doing so is also particularly important for Singapore as a multiethnic society to strengthen our internal social fabric and national identity.

👉🏻 https://str.sg/jdFb

👉🏻  https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/secondary-school-students-higher-mother-tongue-classes-psle-scores-moe-4608756?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_16092024_cna

----

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 11:00 AM]

[ Poll : I am confident that these initiatives will help to promote bilingualism amongst young people. Please share the reason for your answer in the chats! ]

- Yes

- No

- Maybe

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 11:02 AM]

Dear Contributors,

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

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

Thank you.

Megan

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 11:50 AM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your thoughts on these new initiatives? How else can the Government and various stakeholders increase the use of mother tongue languages (MTLs) amongst young people?

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

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

Thank you!

Megan 😊

Jun Ming, [16/9/2024 12:35 PM]

It depends on what the gov purpose in letting more people to learn MTL. Is it just for daily communication with others? Or is it more for professional settings in work and study

Jun Ming, [16/9/2024 12:46 PM]

Maybe setting mtl as a requirement to uni might help

Jun Ming, [16/9/2024 1:21 PM]

And the chance of applying it in daily life is important too

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 2:02 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 3:16 PM]

Dear Contributors,

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

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

Thank you.

Megan

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 3:16 PM]

LCL (Danny 心), [16/9/2024 3:21 PM]

*Merits of learning Mother Tongue Language*

1. Personally, I feel that in addition to English Language as a working language, being proficient in Mother Tongue is equally important.

2. The reasons bbeing :-

a. Mother Tongue is our root and heritage - and speaking, reading and writing in our Mother Tongue will enable ourselves to understand and live our roots, culture better.

b. Mother Tongue enable us to read and understand the 哲学，the profound philosphy of thousand of years of our cultural civilisation, 佛，道，儒 思想 (Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism philosophy)

And how this philosphy eg. 佛法 influence the research and understanding of 量子物理  Quantum Physics.

Eg.

起心动念 造宇宙。

26 Aug 2024

"Experiments Prepare to Test Whether Consciousness Arises from Quantum Weirdness"

 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experiments-prepare-to-test-whether-consciousness-arises-from-quantum/#:~:text=5%20MIN%20READ-,Experiments%20Prepare%20to%20Test%20Whether%20Consciousness%20Arises%20from%20Quantum%20Weirdness,-Researchers%20wish%20to

Researchers wish to probe and prove consciousness has a basis in quantum mechanical phenomena.

c. Mother Tongue enable us to understand the profound employment, deployment of defense - Suntze Art of War 孙子兵法。

In which its strategies have been adopted by militaries all over the World today.

The crux of the strategies can also be adapted to the business field, starting, expanding and managing the complex business in a highly competitive business world.

d. Mother Tongue enable us to understand the moral values, ethics of the conduct of human-to-human interaction, human-to-society interaction and how human should wholesomely behave in a society - to enable individual, household, and a society coexist in a harmonious community -- preventing conflict and confrontation that lead to chaos and destruction.

e. Mother Tongue allow us to understand the art, dance, songs, martial arts, gymnastics eg. 太极，八卦, 少林 TaiChi, BaQua, Shaolin etc.

f. Mother Tongue enable us to understand how our history and how our civilisation evolve from many dynasties 朝代 eg. 秦始皇，三国，明朝，宋朝，清朝 (QingShiWang, Three Kingdoms, Ming dynasty, Sung dynasty, Qing dynasty) - the rise and fall of the community civilisation.

g. Mother Tongue enable us to understand the meaning of different cultural festive celebration eg. 农历新年，端午节，etc.

h. Of course, able to converse, read and write our Mother Tongue will enable us to conduct professional communication, do business with our business partners eg China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese diaspora in other Countries that converse in the Mother Tongue Language.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/9/2024 3:40 PM]

*The Learning Journey*

1. During my time in Primary School, there is only 1st language - English Language - that are conducted in all subjects - English, Math, Science.

All Mother Tongue is conducted as 2nd Language.

There is no Higher Mother Tongue at that time.

2. Armed with 2nd Language Mother Tongue, we can read, write and converse relatively well.

We are able to read books, novels, newspaper and able to write composition and comprehension - all the way to secondary schools and do well in GCE "O" Level Mother Tongue exam.

3. In private time, the Mother Tongue knowledge learn can even able to 读经文，哲学，兵法，事实，历史 - profound scripture, philosophy, Art of War, news, history.

4. And later part, Higher Mother Tongue is introduced (that I missed) - to cultivate business Mother Tongue, media quality Mother Tongue talents.

5. Looking at the current proposed policy to boost the learning of Mother Tongue --- it is many notches up the ladder to cultivate Mother Tongue talents notably:-

a. More students who do well in Mother Tongue at Primary level can study higher Mother Tongue at Secondary level regardless of the overall score in PSLE.

b. Scaling up of pilot Mother Tongue programme in kindergarten.

And other activities.

6. I feel that the Mother Tongue quality will improve quite noticeably with this new policy.

7. But proficiency in a language need alot of lifetime practice. It cannot be learn in a class and then not used it in the daily life.

Hence, using it in everyday context will help to ensure the proficieny of the Mother Tongue as well as the English Language as the working language.

8. My experience is :

a. Speak Mother Tongue at home with parents, among siblings and grandparents or even neighbors as well as in Mother Tongue classes.

b. Speak English Language at work, with colleagues and in professional settings.

9. These will ensure proficiencies in both Mother Tongue and English Language.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/9/2024 3:53 PM]

10. Of course watching TV drama mother tongue, sing songs - will reinforce the mother tongue proficiency.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/9/2024 4:00 PM]

11. By immersing in Mother Tongue, read and interact with foreign people will help us to understand the nuance, their thinkings, their culture, their underlying subtle inklings of how and why foreign people behave the way they are --- and will be very useful in social interaction, business, politics and geopolitics --- to avoid miscommunication and misreading of situations that arises.

12. In fact as observe, US and China geopolitics tensions - can be better managed if both China and US understand one another culture better - and many confrontations will be unnecessary.

The mistrust at the current level - in many instances - are due to misreading of nuances that escalated into open differences.

REACH Singapore, [16/9/2024 4:03 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

Mindfulness application (at unpleasant or challenging moment)

14 Sep 2024

- Mindful 

- Mindful 

- Extra Mindful 

- 沉淀

- Analyse 

- Rationalise

REACH (Telegram) 21 - What are your views on the proposed Platform Workers Bill? How can we continue to better support platform workers?

(SK)

10 Sep 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 9:45 AM]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 10:01 AM]

📢 Topic 📢

The Platform Workers Bill was put up for debate in Parliament on Sept 9. It proposes to place ride-hailing drivers and freelance delivery workers here in a distinct legal category of their own, and afford them greater labour protections.

The Bill proposes to increase the amount of contributions paid into the Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts of platform workers born after Jan 1, 1995, and older workers who opt in, and also a standardised work injury compensation regime for these workers, with the same level of coverage as employees. 

Additionally, platform workers will be able to bargain collectively through union-like representative bodies.

💬  What are your views on the proposed Platform Workers Bill? How can we continue to better support platform workers?

📌 Why is the Bill needed?

MOM said platform work can be precarious as platform workers are subject to risks, such as uncertain earnings, traffic accidents and limited CPF savings for housing and retirement.

Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon said platform workers have modest incomes that can fluctuate from month to month, adding that their median monthly earnings were around $1,500 to $2,500.

Also, while platform workers have more flexibility than regular employees in deciding when to work and who to work for, they do not have the full autonomy that other self-employed people enjoy, due to the management controls that platform operators exert. This is why a new distinct category is needed for them, in between employees and self-employed people.

📌 Higher CPF contributions

Currently, platform workers are only required to make MediSave contributions of up to 10.5 per cent of their net earnings.

If the Bill is passed, the CPF contribution rate for platform workers will go up in 2025 by up to 2.5 per cent and savings will go into the Ordinary, Special and MediSave accounts.

This will continue to rise over the next four years so that by 2029, platform workers will contribute at the same rate as employees, which today is 20 per cent for those aged 55 and below.

Platform operators will also be required to contribute their share to the CPF savings scheme, starting with 3.5 per cent of net earnings in 2025. This will also go up in steps to reach parity with what employers contribute in 2029.

📌 Work Injury Compensation

Under the Platform Workers Bill, it will be mandatory for all platform operators to provide platform workers with work injury compensation insurance with the same level of coverage as employees.

This means reimbursement of up to $45,000 in medical expenses, compensation for income loss due to medical leave or hospitalisation, as well as lump-sum compensation of between $76,000 to $225,000 for death, and between $97,000 and $289,000 for permanent incapacity.

The compensation amount will be calculated based on how much the platform worker had earned in the 90 days prior to the date of the accident.

Under the Bill, platform workers will be eligible for work injury compensation when picking up or delivering a passenger or item. However, they will not be covered while waiting for jobs. They will also be ineligible for compensation if they were unlicensed to operate the vehicle being used or if the injury was directly caused by illegal modification of the vehicle.

MOM said the platform operator that the worker was working for at the point of injury will be responsible for providing compensation.

👉🏼 [ST] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-platform-workers-bill

👉🏼 [CNA] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/platform-workers-food-delivery-riders-protections-faq-4595416

👉🏼 [CNA] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/platform-workers-bill-food-delivery-riders-ride-hailing-protections-parliament-4596531

----

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 11:01 AM]

[ Poll : How supportive are you of the proposed Bill? Share your reasons in the chat! ]

- Very Supportive

- Supportive

- Unsupportive 

- Very Unsupportive 

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 11:03 AM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the proposed Platform Workers Bill? How can we continue to better support platform workers?

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

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

Thank you!

Megan 😊

G, [10/9/2024 11:04 AM]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/founders-memorial-gardens-bay-east-development-cost-million-edwin-tong-4596241

The $335mil memorial is such a big waste of taxpayer money on supposedly prime land. And that is just the cost of developing the site, not including the costs of maintenance and upkeep. How much more taxpayers money is expected to be spent to upkeep this white elephant every year?

Truly a fine example of one-time and continuous profligate spending, and irresponsible and unsustainable plan

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 11:09 AM]

1. Wish to comment on the CPF contribution to medisave - whereby yearly, an amount will contribute as medishield premium.

2. MOH is trying to revamp the scheme to cover nine in 10 large subsidised bills incurred at public hospitals. 

3. However, I feel there is still a loophole in the proposed revamp because insurance companies will make every effort to push and justify hospital bills as the 10th bill that is not covered under the medishield insurance scheme.

This is very apparent in the current medishield scheme whereby most hospital bills submitted are classified as "not covered" - and patients have to fork out out of pocket money to pay hospital bills.

Then there is no value coming under the mandatory medishield insurance - because insurance companies will try every effort to avoid payout for hospital bills.

4. I suggest a variation to the medishield insurance revamp on the hospital bills coverage.

That's all public hospital bills will be covered under the medishield insurance scheme and insurance companies must pay 90% of all the public hospitals bill.

Patients will co-pay 10% of the hospital bills to prevent abuse.

5. Only then I feel that subscribing to medishield insurance scheme is useful and helpful to the patients.

Else Insurance companies will again exploit the loopholes in the revamp scheme to avoid payout to the detriment of the patients.

G, [10/9/2024 11:40 AM]

Will this supposed new union be politically independent or affiliated?

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 12:29 PM]

This is especially important for platform workers that may not be compensated under the workman compensation injuries.

With guarantee 90% coverage under the medishield insurance scheme of all public hospital bills, insurance companies will not be able to exploit loopholes not to compensate the platform workers - such as justifying the injuries or illness as fall under the "not covered" categories and refuse to make payout.

xXx.SCAR.xXx, [10/9/2024 12:33 PM]

Regarding the platform workers, what matters to me is whether they have been consulted and properly informed about the pros and cons; and do they have further needs but are not heard because the conversation had effectively been concluded.

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 1:00 PM]

[ Poll : How supportive are you of the proposed Bill? Share your reasons in the chat! ]

- Very Supportive

- Supportive

- Unsupportive 

- Very Unsupportive 

Jun Ming, [10/9/2024 1:11 PM]

I would like to revote my vote to supportive

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 1:14 PM]

Under the Bill, platform workers will be eligible for work injury compensation when picking up or delivering a passenger or item. However, they will not be covered while waiting for jobs. They will also be ineligible for compensation if they were unlicensed to operate the vehicle being used or if the injury was directly caused by illegal modification of the vehicle.

Looking at the written English statement and the above caveat - a high chance the Insurance companies with the assistance of their legal will exploits the caveat and justify no payout to the platform workers under the "not covered" clauses.

Hence I am getting more and more sceptical about how useful health insurance are helping patients.

A few insurance agents approach me to sell me healthcare insurance.

I ask them, is there guaranteed payout to all hospital bills.

Then the insurance agents will come out with all sorts of caveats such as old illness not covered lah, this not covered, that not covered.

Then I asked them, what is the benefits to me for paying yearly premium and so many things not covered - and the insurance companies are just trying to milk free money from me.

So I am never convinced health insurance are designed to help people - but in fact a "con job".

My experience with medishield insurance - with 0 payout for our hospital bills confirm my suspicions.

Jun Ming, [10/9/2024 1:15 PM]

I am not a platform worker but I can imagine if the platform worker is just working it as a part time job, their earning for extra pocket money will need to go to cpf and hence lesser cash on hand.

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 1:15 PM]

You can press the right side of the poll text and select "retract vote".

Then vote again.

G, [10/9/2024 1:20 PM]

/stat@combot

Combot, [10/9/2024 1:46 PM]

Total messages:2308

Caleb, [10/9/2024 1:46 PM]

Which bill

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 2:01 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 2:03 PM]

📢 Train and bus fares are going up from Dec 28

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/mrt-bus-fares-to-go-up-by-10-cents-for-adults-who-pay-by-card-from-dec-28?utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram&utm_campaign=sttg

Jun Ming, [10/9/2024 2:07 PM]

Noo....

Jun Ming, [10/9/2024 2:07 PM]

Lucky I am still a student. Nowadays fares are expensive

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 3:00 PM]

[ Poll : How supportive are you of the proposed Bill? Share your reasons in the chat! ]

- Very Supportive

- Supportive

- Unsupportive 

- Very Unsupportive 

G, [10/9/2024 3:01 PM]

After all the taxmoney poured into make the public transports more efficient, adult commuters still have to pay ever rising fares.

Jun Ming, [10/9/2024 3:04 PM]

I am not supportive by the fare increase

Nicholas, [10/9/2024 3:54 PM]

If the CPF contribution rate goes up for both workers and platform operators, assuming the total pay package remains the same, it means the take-home pay of the worker will go down significantly. While helping to save for the future, likely there will be unhappiness from platform workers, as most live from pay cheque to pay cheque with minimal savings.

Hanny, [10/9/2024 4:01 PM]

I support the bill for platform workers. This workers are future liability for the government in the future. Liability to government means liability to everyone. As much as many workers may not like it, we need to implement this. Working for platforms is no longer a temporary stop gap solution. It is becoming full time and lifetime employment.

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 4:01 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

Hanny, [10/9/2024 4:04 PM]

Working for platforms should be taken as temporary thing. Unfortunately, it is no longer the case. People gets comfortable with it and it becomes very hard to move away from this platform.

Hanny, [10/9/2024 4:07 PM]

Platforms should be the one that cut workers commission and contribute to cpf.

Hanny, [10/9/2024 4:08 PM]

We cannot depend on workers to contribute willingly.

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 4:24 PM]

Even cleaners, part time workers also contribute to CPF.

Cannot see why platform workers should be the exception.

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 4:24 PM]

CPF contributions are payable for part-time, casual or temporary employees who are: Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, Engaged under a contract of service, and. Earning total wages of more than $50 per month.

Source:- Google

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 4:29 PM]

Cleaner, part time workers earn about $1,000 to $1,500 a month and yet they contribute to CPF.

Cannot see why the platform workers earning $1,500 to $2,500 cannot contribute to their own CPF.

The median salary (according to CNA and Straits Times) is $1,925 a month for platform workers.

3.2% earn more than $5,000 - higher than the national median salary of $4,680.

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.

LCL (Danny 心), [10/9/2024 5:00 PM]

Notably:- the World Labour Organisation is looking closely at Singapore labour policy in protecting platform workers - a beacon for other countries to follow.

SMOS said that the International Labour Organization has reached out to Singapore to understand the country's considerations and experiences in making the policy changes.

"This signals how important this issue is and shows that we are at the vanguard of developing innovative and sustainable ways to better protect these workers."

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 5:00 PM]

[ Poll : How supportive are you of the proposed Bill? Share your reasons in the chat! ]

- Very Supportive

- Supportive

- Unsupportive 

- Very Unsupportive 

Nicholas, [10/9/2024 5:34 PM]

While supportive of the bill, the platform operators will likely pass on any additional cost to end consumers, so this will result in another round of inflation to us.

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 6:00 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

G, [10/9/2024 6:39 PM]

With this the govt can then now use the CPF contributions as a proxy to claim more income tax from gig workers

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 6:44 PM]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [10/9/2024 7:00 PM]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====

*In Buddhism can an enlightened person or being ever lose their enlightened state?*

 10 Sep 2024

*In Buddhism can an enlightened person or being ever lose their enlightened state?*

The answer is no.

Once a person gain Enlightenment, he wouldn't lose it.

----

The Buddha, who achieved Nirvana at age 40, regularly meditated until he died at age 80.

Why would a supremely enlightened master need to meditate after achieving enlightenment?

The human mind reverts to primal thoughts unless it is constantly tended, cleaned and sorted.

On summer retreats, the Buddha would often go away for days at a time after finishing his teaching sessions in order to declutter his mind. 

Even the Buddha was human. He was known to every human emotion after enlightenment but these emotions were like light fluffy clouds on a vast sky of wisdom.

Vigilant housekeeping is endless in the struggle toward peace.

REACH (Telegram) 20 - Over the course of the day, we will be sharing articles on key issues discussed in Parliament today. Please share with us what areas you might be interested in and let us have your views on the issues raised.

(SK)

09 Sep 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 11:45 AM]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 12pm to 8pm today. ⏰

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 11:59 AM]

📢 Topic 📢

Parliament will sit today (9 September) at 12pm. Of note, parliamentary questions regarding the Mobile Guardian cybersecurity breach, issues relating to the extremist preacher from Bangladesh who delivered a sermon in Singapore, the current mpox situation, the revamped Gifted Education Programme (GEP) will be raised. 

Six Bills are set to be introduced, including the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill. The Platform Workers Bill and Casino Control (Amendment) Bill are among the four bills scheduled for second reading. 

💬 Over the course of the day, we will be sharing articles on key issues discussed in Parliament today. Please share with us what areas you might be interested in and let us have your views on the issues raised.

📌 Mobile Guardian cybersecurity breach

- Mobile Guardian is a device management app installed on personal learning devices used by students. It enables parents to manage students’ device usage by restricting applications or websites and screen time. 

- The Ministry of Education (MOE) said in August that Mobile Guardian would be removed from all students’ personal learning devices after a global cybersecurity breach affected about 13,000 students from 26 secondary schools in Singapore. 

- MPs have called for updates from MOE on what it is doing to help students who have had their study notes wiped out and how many were unable to recover their data, if “targeted support” is being offered to affected students experiencing distress, if steps are being taken to avoid similar incidents, and if there would be a review of the use of technology by students.

📌 Bangladeshi preacher who delivered an illegal and extremist sermon to migrant workers

- Amir Hamza managed to enter Singapore because he used a passport with a name different from what was in the security databases, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said last month. MHA said its Internal Security Department was aware of Amir Hamza’s background, but “did not have his biometrics at the time of his entry”.

- MPs have asked how the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) mitigates the risk of individuals using fraudulent documents to enter Singapore, what are the rules governing the use of foreign worker dormitories for events involving speakers or religious preachers, and what are the penalties in place to deal with dormitory owners when such incidents occur. 

📌 Mpox

- MPs called for an update on the virus and the local situation, as well as border and social management measures. 

- Last week, Singapore said that it will offer the mpox vaccine to healthcare workers who are at the highest risk of exposure to the disease as well as close contacts of confirmed cases. The announcement came against the backdrop of growing concern about the clade 1 strain, which prompted the World Health Organization to declare mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.

📌 Revamped GEP

- The gifted programme, a curriculum catering to intellectually gifted students, will be overhauled and replaced with a new approach for high-ability learners in all primary schools. This was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his maiden National Day Rally.

- MPs have called for more details on the revamped GEP, how it would be implemented, and how MOE would address any potential disparity in resource allocation and learning opportunities between students in the GEP and those in the mainstream programme. 

📌 Platform Workers Bill

- The Bill proposes measures to support the housing and retirement adequacy of platform workers.

- It would make provisions for work injury compensation, and strengthen the responsibilities of platform operators and workers to prevent injuries.

- The Bill also calls for creating a legal framework for the representation of platform workers.

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/parliament-order-paper-sep-9-mobile-guardian-mpox-gep-extremist-preacher-4590736

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 12:00 PM]

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mobile-guardian-hacking-singapore-cybersecurity-moe-secondary-schools-ipad-4536331

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/bangladeshi-preacher-amir-hamza-extremism-illegal-sermon-4558811

👉https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/mpox-vaccine-healthcare-workers-close-contacts-no-mask-wearing-4573951

👉https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/gifted-education-programme-gep-changes-4554486

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ntuc-new-platform-worker-associations-legal-mandate-bill-parliament-4574666

----

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 12:32 PM]

[ Poll : Which issue are you most interested in for today’s Parliament sitting? ]

- Mobile Guardian cybersecurity breach

- Extremist preacher from Bangladesh

- Mpox

- Revamped Gifted Education Programme (GEP)

- Platform Workers Bill

Jun Ming, [9/9/2024 1:29 PM]

I am interested in the full 6 bills

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 1:33 PM]

📢 Personal responsibility is 'cornerstone' of social compact even with unemployment benefits, says Tan See Leng

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/jobseeker-support-scheme-unemployment-jobless-benefits-personal-responsibility-4595206

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 2:30 PM]

📢 About 2,500 visitors refused entry at Singapore’s checkpoints every month: Shanmugam

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/amir-hamza-bangladeshi-preacher-singapore-border-security-shanmugam-4595216

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 2:30 PM]

All the topics are relevant to us.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 2:40 PM]

*Bangladeshi preacher who delivered an illegal and extremist sermon to migrant workers*

1. Just wondering, I thought all overseas religious preachers who need to conduct sermons to our religious groups - need endorsement by the respective Religious leaders before the Authorities approved the conduct of the talk?

2. Even though the preacher may disguise himself under different names and passports, the scrutiny by the Religious leaders from MUIS will have reveal his credentials when going through his background and track record.

3. Also, the organisers that arrange the overseas preachers must have know his background before inviting him over. The organisers will have to submit to the respective Religious Leaders for endorsement and the Authority for approval.

4. If all the above steps are done, the foreign extremist preacher will have no chance to sneak in.

Hanny, [9/9/2024 2:45 PM]

I don’t think the preacher came under the legal route.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 2:46 PM]

Hmm...

Then the dorm organiser will be held responsible why they smuggle him in.

Hanny, [9/9/2024 2:47 PM]

I don’t totally agree with the approach of dismissing Legal Guardian. It’s an easy step that only appease public. 

It’s the same as crowdstrike issue. Crowdstrike has the best solution. Are you going to get rid of crowdstrike because of one incident?

Jun Ming, [9/9/2024 3:00 PM]

What is the replacement of mobile guardian

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 3:01 PM]

[ Poll : Which issue are you most interested in for today’s Parliament sitting? ]

- Mobile Guardian cybersecurity breach

- Extremist preacher from Bangladesh

- Mpox

- Revamped Gifted Education Programme (GEP)

- Platform Workers Bill

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:02 PM]

*Mobile Guardian cybersecurity breach*

1. When engaging or buying application products from cloud service providers, I feel that we must not only look at the content of the products and services provided, there must be an additional scrutiny - that is how the cloud providers safeguard and secure their cloud infrastructure.

Because no matter how good the content is, if cloud service provider does not do a good job in securing their cloud infrastructure, then services will not be make available during critical time, and the denial of service will impact the functions of the schools.

2. For example, evaluators of the tender should require the cloud service providers to demonstrate how their cloud infrastructure are protected :-

a. Is there a "Security-in-depth" - eg. firewall, proxy, IPS, APT security, MDM security (eg. security posture assessment of firewall, OS version and latest security patches, anti-virus etc, Quarantine VLAN, Isolation VLAN, captive portal etc) - Web-Apps-Db segregation etc.

b. SIEMs (Security Incident Events Management) - proactive monitoring and management of cybersecurity.

c. Password management and cyber hygiene

d. Backup, Recovery procedures, BCP (Business Continuity Plan)

e. Resilient, Redundant and Secondary cloud infrastructure for recovery if cloud infrastructure is compromise.

f. Apps, OS, DB security in addition to cloud infrastructure security

g. DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service) security safeguard

3. If the cloud infrastructure security evaluation is also conducted with strict cybersecurity hygiene, then any breaches to the primary infrastructure Mobile Guardian - can be easily isolated and the secondary infrastructure activated to continue to provide service with no downtime to the users.

Conscientious backup of the schools data - can also be recovered and run on the secondary cloud infrastructure.

Similarly, if crowdstrike cloud infrastructure if subjected to similar scrutiny, then crowdstrike software updates failure will not have impacted the users.

Another thing, wonder why Microsoft allows 3rd party developers to plug software upgrades or updates directly into the OS kernel?

This is a very bad apps development practice because any bugs will have trigger a blue screen of death.

I thought API interfaces are always the safest approach to software upgrades. Any bugs won't bring down the OS kernel and trigger the Blue Screen of Death.

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 3:02 PM]

Dear Contributors,

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

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

Thank you.

Megan

Hanny, [9/9/2024 3:05 PM]

I am sure moe has done all the due diligence. Incident happens. We need to respond in a way that is most pragmatic.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:11 PM]

Mostly subscribers to cloud services don't do this step.

Because cloud service providers are tough negotiators - and say other customers are involved in the shared infrastructure, cannot disclose how the cloud infrastructure are secured.

If I am not wrong.

Moreover, mobile guardian could only be an apps provider but don't own the cloud infrastructure.

Hence unable to articulate how its cloud infrastructure are secured.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:14 PM]

As far as I know, so far have not come across any customers successfully request cloud service providers to provide information how their cloud infrastructure are secured - citing security secrecy to prevent leakage.

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 3:15 PM]

📢 Singapore proposes ban on deepfakes of candidates during elections

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-elections-ban-deepfakes-candidates-advertising-4585686

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:15 PM]

But then customers are at the mercy of the cloud service providers.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:21 PM]

Eg. Any business when subscribe to cloud services offer by say Amazon ask how they protect their cloud infrastructure?

Amazon will say, you just subscribe to the cloud service.

Cloud security non of your business (in a nice way).

Adam, [9/9/2024 3:27 PM]

I think this should extend beyond elections

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:28 PM]

Unless all government services are built on private cloud and apps service providers reside their apps service on the private clouds provided managed by the government.

Jun Ming, [9/9/2024 3:31 PM]

Agree those deepfake minister should be punished

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:32 PM]

*Revamped GEP*

1.I feel that revamping and spreading the GEP programme will have the following benefits :-

a. Don't need talented students to leave their neighborhood schools to congregate in a few elite schools.

b. Remove the stigma of elitism, integrate, interact and accept diversity with other students.

Else if all elite students congregrate into a few elite schools, elitism aptitude will creep into the students - unable to interact well with the larger segments of the students.

c. More students who are late boomers can be identified and push into the GEP programme of the respective schools - as more slots can be made available - slots not limited to the few elite schools.

d.Some students will be more talented in some subjects and not all the subjects. By spreading the GEP programme into all schools, students who are talented in certain subjects can join the GEP in that particular subject to its highest potential possible.

2.The only catch is, talented teachers handling GEP are scarce resources. There must be sufficient talented teachers able to handle GEP students in all the schools.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:43 PM]

Eg. If mobile guardian reside their cloud apps on the government private cloud, then all the cloud infrastructure security safeguards will have been in place.

The service won't go down.

Because the security in depth is solid, backup and recovery is conscientiously done and redundant cloud infrastructure is in place.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 3:56 PM]

However by doing so, higher costs will be involved.

Because if mobile guardian cloud apps are shared by global customers, the price is cheaper because of Economies of scale.

If mobile guardian apps reside in our government private cloud, then only Singapore schools are using it. Lack Economies of scale.

Also our IT professionals need to maintain the Private cloud infrastructure. More storage places needed and backup.

So our schools will incur higher costs.

The plus side is, cybersecurity and availability are assured.

So it is Cost versus Service Availability.

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 4:01 PM]

📢 Mpox likely to be more troublesome than disruptive: Ong Ye Kung

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mpox-likely-to-be-more-troublesome-than-disruptive-ong-ye-kung

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 4:14 PM]

Understand from the Minister respond to MP Patrick query about why $5,000 is the criteria for dishing out the Retrenchment temporary grants to lower and middle income people. But pmet are left out.

The Minister respond is that for a start, this will be the criteria as those above national median salary has a longer runway.

And the grants are finance by the government operating budget - which is the savings - and hence quite limited.

Understand the constraints and hope the government will review the criteria overtime and when budget permit.

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 4:01 PM]

📢 Mpox likely to be more troublesome than disruptive: Ong Ye Kung

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mpox-likely-to-be-more-troublesome-than-disruptive-ong-ye-kung

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 4:14 PM]

Understand from the Minister respond to MP Patrick query about why $5,000 is the criteria for dishing out the Retrenchment temporary grants to lower and middle income people. But pmet are left out.

The Minister respond is that for a start, this will be the criteria as those above national median salary has a longer runway.

And the grants are finance by the government operating budget - which is the savings - and hence quite limited.

Understand the constraints and hope the government will review the criteria overtime and when budget permit.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 4:28 PM]

But agree that rebounce from retrenchment is a personal responsibility.

No matter how difficult, retrenched workers must seek to recover and find a new jobs either by own efforts or helps from job search government sanction organisations or private job seeking companies.

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 5:07 PM]

[ Poll : Which issue are you most interested in for today’s Parliament sitting? ]

- Mobile Guardian cybersecurity breach

- Extremist preacher from Bangladesh

- Mpox

- Revamped Gifted Education Programme (GEP)

- Platform Workers Bill

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 5:08 PM]

Dear Contributors,

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

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

Thank you.

Megan

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 5:09 PM]

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 5:20 PM]

📢 MOH will do more to help people choose the right IP insurance for their needs

👉🏼 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/moh-will-do-more-to-help-people-choose-the-right-ip-insurance-for-their-needs

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 5:22 PM]

Ensure medishield insurance can cover 90% of the public hospitals healthcare services - will be a good benchmark.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 5:27 PM]

Currently, quite a number of public hospitals bill cannot be covered by the medishield insurance.

Hence ensuring at least 90% of the hospital bills can be covered by medishield insurance is more important.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 5:59 PM]

Realise that every year, the medishield premium is getting higher.

But most of the time, hospital bills are not covered.

Patients still have to fix out of pocket money to pay for the hospital bills.

Begin to wonder why pay medishield premium when most of the time, medishield insurance don't cover?

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 6:05 PM]

Would it be a better insurance plan under medishield insurance - will cover all public hospital bills co-pay 10% by patients ?

Then medishield insurance will not be abused because of the co payment - yet serving the needs of the patients.

Then paying yearly medishield premium is a more equitable solution.

Else why every year keep paying increasing medishield premium.

But when go public hospital treatment, this don't cover, that don't cover.

Then why do compulsory payment for medishield premium year after year - when only a few people benefits subsidise by majority of the medishield subscribers?

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 6:09 PM]

Hence I feel there is a need to revamp the medishield insurance scheme.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 6:30 PM]

The irony of the current medishield insurance is that it benefits all the insurance companies at the expense of the majority of the patients - where the original intent is to benefit the patients.

Hence I feel that it is overdue to revamp the medishield insurance.

Cover all public hospitals bills but co-pay 10% by patients to prevent abuse.

Then contribution to medishield premium every year is worth it.

Else I don't find any value in the medishield insurance whereby most of the time, medishield cannot claim in public hospitals - this don't cover, that don't cover.

Wonder what is really covered under medishield insurance?

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 6:36 PM]

If medishield insurance are adequate, then patients will less likely to procure private IP.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 6:44 PM]

Public hospitals staff will try to submit patients hospitals bills to the medishield insurance companies.

But they will always say, we try to submit, but no guarantee medishield insurance will be successful.

Most of the time, they are right.

Every time not successful, patients still have to pay own cash.

When ask the staff under what circumstances medishield insurance will definitely cover? 

They say no idea.

Then wonder why make medishield insurance compulsory when it is not design to benefit patients - and yet patients every year got to contribute to medishield premium - compulsory.

It seems to benefit the insurance companies and not the patients.

Adam, [9/9/2024 6:45 PM]

I wonder how it works

Adam, [9/9/2024 6:45 PM]

Do you get treatment not knowing how much it cost off pocket?

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 6:46 PM]

Nobody knows how it works.

Adam, [9/9/2024 6:46 PM]

Can i ask if medisheild will cover before go a&e and tell driver to go causeway if rejected?

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 6:47 PM]

You got to ask MOH.

Even hospital staff can't tell what is covered under the medishield insurance.

Jun Ming, [9/9/2024 6:52 PM]

Actually no one's knows how much you will pay when admit to hospital

Jun Ming, [9/9/2024 6:53 PM]

As you don't know what conditions you are and what treatment they will administer

Nicholas, [9/9/2024 7:01 PM]

Good move by MOH, looking forward to their guidance on which IP is suitable.

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:01 PM]

Cant the doctor give like some quotation before any treatment?

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:02 PM]

Or the price of diagnosis too

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:04 PM]

If they itemise the bill maybe patient can be in a better position to look for better prices

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 7:12 PM]

MediShield Life, the mandatory national medical insurance scheme, is designed to cover nine in 10 large subsidised bills incurred at public hospitals. A comprehensive review is under way, and results are expected to be shared later in 2024.

Ms Rahayu said the review is being done to ensure that MediShield Life continues to protect Singaporeans against large medical bills.

“Coverage may broaden and claim limits may need to go up, to give Singaporeans greater peace of mind should they encounter a major health episode” as a result of the review, she noted.

These patients may not need IPs or riders, because MediShield Life is generally sufficient for such episodes, and will be further enhanced after the major review this year,” she said.

I can't reconcile the above statement.

Because I have not come across any of my family members and relatives - have successfully claim under medishield insurance for hospital treatment.

Am I missing something?

So far, hospital staff have tried submitting, all the time unsuccessful.

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:14 PM]

If you dont mind disclosing, what kind of treatments was it?

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:14 PM]

Was it critical illness?

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 7:14 PM]

Some are day surgery.

Some are critical illness

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:16 PM]

Ive always thought medishield would cover at least some amount

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:16 PM]

Now im scared

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 7:16 PM]

Lately my eye scar in a hospital treatment after referral by a&E - also rejected.

I start to wonder what is the use of medishield insurance when I have zero benefits from it.

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:17 PM]

If they hide like this, i think its inexcusable

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:17 PM]

Why are we paying into an opaque system

Adam, [9/9/2024 7:18 PM]

If a financial institute pitched this plan to the gov it will never be allowed to be sold

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 7:19 PM]

My wife day surgery also rejected.

LCL (Danny 心), [9/9/2024 7:31 PM]

What actually happens on the ground and what is reported don't seem to synch.

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 7:45 PM]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [9/9/2024 7:59 PM]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

=====

Mindfulness at every present moment Versus 本来无一物

07 Sep 2024

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS2fSc2k6/

1. 神秀 时时歏拂拭 Mindfulness in every present moment - already 了不起。But still not attain 空。

2. 慧能 - 本来无一物 means stray thoughts does not even arise - is actually 空（四大皆空）（五蕴皆空）.

This is true Enlightenment.

 

 

毗卢遮那佛 (法身佛)

06 Sep 2024

1. 佛有三身。

- 法身佛

- 化身佛

- 报身佛

Mirror to quantum physics - quantum entanglement of superposition (3 quibits states).

2.

- 法身佛 (大涅槃 - The Final Complete Perfect Nirvana - where all infinite Buddhas will return and reside). Dharma Body (道).

- 化身佛 - Out of Compassion, some Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in 法身佛 - 化身 to be 释迦摩尼佛，阿弥陀佛，药师佛，弥勒佛，观世音菩萨，大势至菩萨，地藏王菩萨 etc to come to Samsara Universe to 普渡众生。

- 报身佛 - is where the various 佛 and 菩萨 have expound to infinite sentinent beings and fulfill their Bodhi Vows through expounding their discourse documented in sutras 经文 and 光明照耀 全宇宙。

3. 法身佛 is like 地球人 (地球众生).

Humans (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Western etc people are called 地球人.

Tiger, Lion, monkey, insects, fish etc are called 地球众生.

Likewise all Buddhas are called 法身佛, specifically 毗卢遮那佛 which is 无量佛 (Infinite Buddhas) 的 总称。

Just like all sentinent beings on Earth is called 地球众生.

All sentinent beings in Universe is called 宇宙众生.

4. Other faiths mistaken 法身佛 -  毗卢遮那佛 as 1 God, Final Nirvana as 1 Heaven.

---

毗卢遮那佛 - 法身佛。(Which also correspond to "No-Self" in Nirvana).

释迦牟尼佛 - 化身佛。(Correspond to Compassion to salvage in Samsara)

功德圆满佛 - 报身佛。(Correspond to Panna Wisdom with Dharma Teachings documented in sutras)

佛有三身。

-----

Other notes :

'Triad', from Latin: trinus 'threefold') is the central doctrine concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons (hypostases) ...

====

REACH (Telegram) 19 - What are your views on MOH's update on the public health measures for mpox? How can we continue to guard against the spread of mpox?

(SK)

04 Sep 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 1:24 PM]

Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 1.30pm to 7pm today. ⏰

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 1:31 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung delivered a press conference on 4 Sept on Singapore’s public health measures against mpox.

💬 What are your views on MOH's update on the public health measures for mpox? How can we continue to guard against the spread of mpox?

Singapore has not detected any clade 1 infection to date. All 14 mpox cases in the country so far this year have been of the less severe clade 2 subtype.

📌 Vaccination

The vaccine JYNNEOS, which has been used in Singapore for protection against mpox and smallpox, will be offered for free to two groups of people.

1️⃣ Healthcare workers who are at the highest risk of exposure to mpox, such as those working at NCID, can get vaccinated for additional protection, on top of infection control protocols and wearing protective equipment.

2️⃣ As for close contacts of confirmed mpox cases, the Expert Committee on Immunisation has recommended a single dose of the vaccine within 14 days of exposure - this will be administered while they are in quarantine.

Singapore’s current supply of JYNNEOS is expected to be sufficient for the current vaccination strategy, MOH said.

📌 Testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment

All suspected adult and paediatric clade 1 cases identified by primary care providers will be taken to NCID and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital respectively. Families with both adults and children will be conveyed to NUH, MOH said. 

Cases who test positive for clade 1 will continue to be isolated in healthcare facilities until they are no longer infectious to prevent further exposure to the community.

Once a clade 1 case is confirmed, MOH will immediately start contact tracing. Close contacts will be quarantined in a designated government facility.

📌 Community measures

In preschools and schools, existing measures for other infectious diseases remain relevant, noting that students will be visually screened for symptoms, MOH said.

With MOM and NEA, MOH is conducting wastewater testing at migrant worker dormitories and the Onboard Centre. 

📌 Border measures

Since Aug 23, Singapore started conducting temperature and visual screening at air and sea checkpoints for travellers and crew arriving from places that may be exposed to the risk of mpox outbreaks. 

All travellers must report mpox-related symptoms like fever or rash, as well as their travel history, through the SG Arrival Card.

👉 https://cna.asia/3XtkGnX

-----

LCL (Danny 心), [4/9/2024 1:54 PM]

1. To the common public, those born before 1981 have already vaccinated against smallpox which is also effective in safeguarding against mpox. That means those 43 years old and above are protected.

2. As for those public who are below 43 years old, within 14 days after exposure still can take the vaccine. So no need to vaccinate beforehand like in covid vaccination.

3. So now only left the healthcare staff with close contact to patients undergo mpox treatment. Look like vaccination before hand is a right approach to prevent infection.

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 1:56 PM]

[ Poll : 1. Are you concerned about the mpox situation? ]

- Yes, the developments around the world has been worrying

- No, I am assured that sufficient public health measures are being implemented

- Neutral

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 1:56 PM]

[ Poll : 2. Are you satisfied with the updated measures to guard against the spread of mpox? ]

- I am satisfied. The current measures take a balanced approach towards the situation.

- I am not satisfied and more measures should be taken (please share your views in the chats below)

- I am not satisfied as the measures are unnecessary (please share your views in the chats below)

LCL (Danny 心), [4/9/2024 1:57 PM]

*Closing the loop of the previous topic - Redundancy Temporary Grant for $5,000 and below*

1. By taking this policy in isolation, notably 2 big groups fall off the crack :-

a. Mid career workers >$5,000

b. PME >$5,000

2. If these groups lose their jobs, they and their family members will equally in distress as the month after next, their income will be $0 - and yet their bills and expenses and housing loans will keep piling up.

3. Taking the policy in isolation, these 2 groups will be suffering - as they won't benefit a single cent from the policy to put food on the table for 6 months.

4. However, by looking at the breadth and depth of all the MOM policies in totality - these 2 groups could be covered in another policy, specifically the "SkillsFuture Level Up programme".

5. The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme is available to all Singaporeans aged 40 and above, with *no income criteria to qualify* ¹. The programme offers a $4,000 SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) top-up, which can be used to defray out-of-pocket fees for selected courses that have better employability outcomes ². Additionally, mid-career Singaporeans can qualify for mid-career enhanced subsidies when taking another publicly-funded full-time diploma from AY2025, even if they had previously received MOE subsidy or government sponsorship for a diploma or higher qualification ².

6. However, the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance, which is part of the programme, is based on 50% of one’s average income over the latest available 12-month period, capped at $3,000 a month, for up to 24 months over an individual’s lifetime ³.

7. Hence for worker's with $5,001 salary, the worker will receive *$2,500.50 cents* every month up to 2 years to put food on the table.

(This will be a more superior programme compare to the Retrenchment Temporary Grant of $6,000 - to be dispense from $1,500, $1,250, $1,000, $750 .... for 6 months).

8.The catch is, this programme caters to mid-career Singaporeans aged 40 years and above.

9. This means 30 years old to 39 years old with salary >$5,000 will not be entitled to the Skillsfuture Level Up Programme.

This is the PME group that fall off the cracks from both "Retrenchment Temporary Grant* and "SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme*.

G, [4/9/2024 2:50 PM]

What's the profile of all those infected?

Previous round of monkeypox fearmongering, and it turns out that the infected were mainly men who engage in gay sex. 

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON385

If anything, to really stop the spread, then need to stop promiscuous gay sex. Too bad 377A was repealed, else it could be actively enforced to stop the spread

MOH needs to be transparent about the findings and be truthful about who are really at risk. Stop pandering to the woke politically correct cultists

G, [4/9/2024 3:34 PM]

98% of infected are gay men

95% caught monkeypox through sexual activity

Yet "infectious disease experts" still want to "warn against stigmatising"

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/explainer-monkeypox-not-gay-disease-queer-community-health-risks-1953656

Contrast this against how those who didn't take the covid jabs were actively stigmatised against. 

Heck RGS even used their alumni in a case study to their students, shedding the alumni in a negative light

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 4:06 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 5:00 PM]

[ Poll : 1. Are you concerned about the mpox situation? ]

- Yes, the developments around the world has been worrying

- No, I am assured that sufficient public health measures are being implemented

- Neutral

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 5:00 PM]

[ Poll : 2. Are you satisfied with the updated measures to guard against the spread of mpox? ]

- I am satisfied. The current measures take a balanced approach towards the situation.

- I am not satisfied and more measures should be taken (please share your views in the chats below)

- I am not satisfied as the measures are unnecessary (please share your views in the chats below)

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 5:02 PM]

Dear Contributors,

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

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

Thank you.

Megan

G, [4/9/2024 5:37 PM]

Why are the poll responses worded like that instead of simple yes/no?

Especially for the "No" response, the reason is assumed to be "sufficient public health measures are being implement". 

Why not leave the reasons for "Yes" and "No" open ended?

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 6:06 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 6:07 PM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on MOH's update on the public health measures for mpox? How can we continue to guard against the spread of mpox?

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

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

Thank you!

Megan 😊

Adam, [4/9/2024 6:09 PM]

When travellers declare, i wonder what is the consequence of incorrectly declaring. Im pretty sure everyone just put all ok anyway as they dun wan to risk getting sent back or quarantine. If get caught can just act blur and say they dunno they sick.

Adam, [4/9/2024 6:10 PM]

Anyone here declare sick before?

Adam, [4/9/2024 6:11 PM]

If its so serious, put up big posters like how drug smugglers will be punished

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 6:45 PM]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [4/9/2024 6:59 PM]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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