REACH (Telegram) 38 - What are your views on the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review? How can we ensure Singapore continues to progress?

(SK)

04 Nov 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 9:45 AM]

Dear contributors,

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REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 10:00 AM]

📢 Topic 📢

The Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review 2024, cited progress in key areas of national interest from early education to employment and retirement.

💬 What are your views on the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review? How can we ensure Singapore continues to progress?

📌 Opportunities for all, at every stage of life

The employment rate of residents aged 25 to 64 was 82.6 per cent in 2023 compared with the pre-Covid-19 pandemic level of 80.8 per cent in 2019. There was also a steady supply of jobs in growth sectors, with 56.3 per cent of newly created positions in 2023 for PMET workers.

About 7 in 10 active CPF members turning 55 were able to meet their Basic Retirement Sum in 2023. A total of 388,000 lower-income workers and 260,000 seniors were supported in their retirement under the Workfare Income Supplement scheme and Silver Support Scheme, respectively, in 2023.

Singaporeans continued to have one of the longest life expectancies in the world, with life expectancy at birth at 87.7 for females and 83.6 for males. Progress has also been made in reducing the prevalence of high cholesterol and diabetes between 2017 and 2022, though the prevalence of obesity and high blood pressure went up during the same period.

Full-day pre-school places were increased to over 200,000 spots in 2023 to meet increased demand, while fees have become more affordable due to lowered fee caps for anchor operator and partner operator pre-schools in 2023.

📌 Quality and sustainable living

The median wait time for BTO flats improved from about five years in 2022, to three years and 10 months in 2023. There were 2,800 flats with shorter wait times launched in 2024, a year ahead of the Government’s targeted timeline.

More than 9 in 10 residents could walk, cycle or ride to their neighbourhood centres within 20 minutes, and two-thirds could commute to work within 45 minutes during peak periods using these transport options.

📌 The shared future and Singapore’s place in the world

This year’s review also highlighted some areas in which Singaporeans have partnered one another and the Government to “own, shape and act on our shared future together”, following from the Forward SG exercise to renew Singapore’s social compact. Through the Mentoring SG movement, individuals, businesses and other organisations have also come together to make mentoring more accessible to young people.

Crime rates in Singapore remained low, with reported physical crimes falling by 1.1 per cent between 2022 and 2023. Singapore’s recidivism rate is also among the lowest in the world, at 22 per cent for the 2021 release cohort.

📌 A strong and resilient economy

Singapore’s real GDP grew at an annualised rate of 2.6 per cent between 2019 and 2023. Real GDP growth for 2024 is expected to be at the upper end of the 2 per cent to 3 per cent forecast range, improving on the 1.1 per cent achieved in 2023.

Inflation slowed significantly in 2024, after having stayed high in the preceding two years. This is partly due to the appreciation of the Singapore dollar, a fall in food commodity prices and less labour market tightness, said MOF.

👉 https://str.sg/fGBc

👉 https://str.sg/sNPA

The Singapore Public Sector Outcome Review can be found at go.gov.sg/SPOR

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REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 11:00 AM]

[ Poll : 1. I agree with the Review that Singapore has made progress in key areas of national interest. Please share the reason for your answer in the chats!

 ]

- Yes

- No

- To some extent

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 11:00 AM]

[ Poll : 2. Which of the following themes do you feel are most important to you as Singapore progresses? Please share the reason for your answer in the chats! ]

- Opportunities for all

- Quality and sustainable living

- The shared future and Singapore’s place in the world

- A strong and resilient economy

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 11:26 AM]

*Opportunities for All*

1. Especially like the concept of Government Policies that shape the population lives "From cradle to grave".

2. Specifically, from pre-school, all the way to University education, jobs, housing, healthcare until retirement.

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 11:33 AM]

*The shared future and Singapore's place in the World*

1. Particularly like the Forward SG exercise - that allow participants to provide timely feedback to Government policies, help to smoothen rough edges and shape the policies more in line with the population needs renewing our social compact.

2. Agree that crime rates are low and rehabilitation rates are good.

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 11:36 AM]

*A strong and resilient Economy*

1. A strong economy is important for Singapore - as it will make businesses vibrant, create jobs, provide high income jobs, and create plenty of opportunities for the population as well as provide high tax revenue to the government that can benefit the population through government spendings.

2. This is achieved despite the challenging geopolitical landscape mark by geopolitical tensions, tariffs, sanctions, decoupling, friend shoring, near shoring, on-shoring etc.

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 12:39 PM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review? How can we ensure Singapore continues to progress?

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, [4/11/2024 12:55 PM]

Most of the stuff the are ok. However the gov should keep a very close eye on whether the performance metrics is correct.

Like bto wait time. It might decrease, but could it be that we just have fewer people applying due to decreasing marraige rates. Or what is the start point of calculating wait time? If we already prep the foundation and gonna confirm build but only let people apply much later on, we could reduce wait time even more.

For the walking and cycling, im sure you have seen the developments of cycling and pedestrian infrastucture. Imo its kinda underwhelming but better than nothing. Wish there was a more better solution like those cycling centric cities. But hey, at least some minister hit the kpi i guess.

What gets measured gets done. We might hit all the metrics but if people on the ground are dissatisfied, we need to look into more than numbers

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 12:56 PM]

Wonder why some people are still unhappy?

What issues make them unhappy?

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:18 PM]

Erm I don't think the crime rates are low though

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:19 PM]

Although compared to others it may seems low but based on news reporting rate it doesn't look low

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 1:20 PM]

Online scam rate is relatively high.

I think physical crime is respectable.

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:22 PM]

I see a rise of reporting in murder quite recently

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:22 PM]

Physical bullying and fighting

Adam, [4/11/2024 1:23 PM]

About crimes, it seems that many small things these days dont get police attention. People morelikely to post on social media and then maybe someone report. Idk if police will even do anything if they come

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:24 PM]

I doubt police care about happy ending massage haha

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:26 PM]

If police cares 70% of massage establishment will kena

Adam, [4/11/2024 1:26 PM]

Personally, i care more about white collar crime. Going after corrupt and rich is good

Adam, [4/11/2024 1:27 PM]

Hmm, but will it impact the 'strong and resilient economy' we care about

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:28 PM]

I think those lose end police can clear de just don't cut the artery

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:28 PM]

First...

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:29 PM]

We can clear those parasites that sucks our money

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:31 PM]

Took the train or bus to the office today? 💼

Fewer commuters are taking public transport on Monday and Friday. Experts say this reflects the rise of hybrid work arrangements among many companies in Singapore. https://str.sg/LJtB

Adam, [4/11/2024 1:31 PM]

Speaking of... we need to audit our gov spending. From construction cost of various project. Or the cookhouse food in saf. Are we getting our moneys worth, or is some cronies sucking up the finances.

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 1:31 PM]

Another misleading article as 2019 COVID have not started in Singapore

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 2:00 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

Jun Ming, [4/11/2024 2:29 PM]

I think the definition of success to Singaporean is living less stressful instead of materialistic success. 

Now the challenge is how to live with lesser stress

Adam, [4/11/2024 2:32 PM]

Saying living less stress is cope

Adam, [4/11/2024 2:32 PM]

Less pie for singaporeans to go around so gov telling us to appreciate what crumbs we have

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 2:33 PM]

In our lifetime, there are few stressors along the way:-

1. Raising a child 

2. Study stress

3. Looking for job

4. Job stress

5. Adequate income

6. Cost of living 

7. Enough savings 

8. Marriage & raising a family

9. Occasion illness

10. Buying a house

11. Adequate retirement 

There will be occasional stress along our lifetime at different points in time.

It is how we see stress and manage them as it comes.

Successful management of life stressors will make us less unhappy as we live and grow out of it.

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 2:35 PM]

Managing expectations is one important aspect of managing stressors.

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 4:02 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 5:25 PM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review? How can we ensure Singapore continues to progress?

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 😊

Steven Ong, [4/11/2024 5:46 PM]

IMO, it'll be good for agencies to continue to create opportunities and environment to support more SMEs to grow so that more jobs can be created and allow more Singaporeans to venture into entrepreneurship and venture overseas, especially ASEAN where many opportunities exist for local businesses to take advantage.

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 5:52 PM]

1. Food security is an area that may have problem meeting 30 X 30.

2. Cell culture meat, fish farm, plant based meat, vertical high tech agriculture - seems to have been hitting some snags.

3. In view of challenging geopolitical landscape, disruption of food supplies maybe possible not too far down the road.

Wonder if there any counter measures to ensure our 30 X 30 food security is intact.

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 6:00 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 6:04 PM]

1. On the diplomatic front, another financial bloc is forming specifically the BRICS that is touted to be an alternative to Swift.

2. The economic bloc GDP is fairly huge and is not an obstacle to trade unlike US which is not very trade friendly.

But nevertheless, diplomatic front, we are still not conducive to join for the obvious reasons of our stand in Ukraine war.

3. But in the long run if Ukraine war is resolved, whether should we put a leg in.

Just to understand how it operates, whether we can benefit from it.

Or are there initiatives that may be detrimental to us if we fully rely on Swift system.

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 6:35 PM]

1. In stock exchange front, our number of listings pale in comparison to the regional markets.

2. Our share prices and trading activities across the board are quite stagnant for a number of years.

3. Wonder any initiatives to drive up vibrancy in the stock market - without relying on sovereign funds dumping money to prop up the stock exchange.

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 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 😊

LCL (Danny 心), [4/11/2024 6:55 PM]

1. Come 5 Nov 2024 (tomorrow), will be a critical date to watch.

2. Whether will we see a candidate that propose 60% tariff on China's goods and across the board 10% tariff on all other countries including our export.

3. It may or may not happen.

But trade will be a challenge whether to a bigger extent or a smaller extent.

4. Will need to prepare how to overcome trade challenges if it becomes more and more difficult for us to trade and ensure we still can enjoy progressive economic growth as trade is 3 times the size of our GDP (close to $1.5 trillion).

REACH Singapore, [4/11/2024 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 😊

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