Singapore PM Lee says world can’t afford US-China conflict, ‘give and take’ needed to accept Beijing’s rise

Lee Hsien Loong told state broadcaster CCTV that Washington and Beijing would have to stabilise ties, gradually build trust and move forward from there

He added China must also reconsider arrangements that worked when it was a smaller economy, and recalibrate its own position

CNA

Published: 12:53pm, 25 Mar, 2023

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User since Mar 2021

Babe B.

1. Looking at how US lawmakers interrogate the TikTok CEO, it looks more like US lawmakers view anything China "adversary" at best and "enemy" at worst.                                                                           

2. It makes me really worry if US lawmakers adopt such a stance - instead of objectively looking at issues at hand and work to resolve problems with China objectively and diplomatically. It will rile up US citizens to view China likewise ---- and sets a toxic climate of people-to-people engagement for US citizens and China nationals..

3. Seed is hence planted for future confrontation and conflict - instead of collaboration and cooperation. 

4. US executives try to paint such image as "constructive competition".                                                   

5. But to neutral parties observing how US lawmakers and politicians respond to China - it look more like "toxic adversary fringing on enimity".                             

6. Moderate and constructive engagement the like of Henry Kissingers and previous moderate US lawmakers - that have constructively reach out to China are no where to be seen. This don't spell good for the World going forward.

Just now

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1. I agree with the analogy that when 2 Olymipic cross-country runners give of their best to cross the finishing line first to be champion - it should be based on their own merits, their training and their strength.

2. As a neutral observer, I also agree with the analogy - that instead of doing so, US is trying to trip, elbow, pull shirts or knock the other Olympic runner off the track - almost to the point of using dirty tactics - with no umpire or refree flashing yellow card to deter such unprofessional act.

3. As 2 big superpowers, both sides should withdraw from such toxic actions - that serve to inflame emotion, tension and refrain from pitching their population in "adversary or enemy mode" against one another.

Because all it take is one spark - and the whole fire will erupt.

4. Human civilisation cannot thrive on adversary or worst enimity - because it eventually will come to blow with one another -- as adversaries cross-path on issues that are important to them.

5. Both Superpowers should come back to the mind of sanity, and approach both relationship in a sensible, rational, logical and non-emotional mode.

Else we could see a 3rd reset in the World order - and could be last and final one for human civilisation.

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REACH 438 -  What are your views on the measures introduced at the parliamentary debate on the White Paper on Singapore’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic?

(SK)

 22 Mar 2023 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

[9:45 am, 22/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

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

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Thank you

Megan 😊

[9:59 am, 22/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

Parliament continued debating the White Paper on Singapore’s Covid-19 response on Tuesday. 

In his closing speech, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that Singapore fared well in saving both lives and livelihoods relative to other countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, and did so without spending excessively. Key to that was the trust that Singaporeans had in the Government to make the right decisions, and in one another, so as to endure the tough measures needed to tide the country over the crisis, he added.

💬  What are your views on the measures introduced at the parliamentary debate on the White Paper on Singapore’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic?

Here are some key takeaways:

📌 Transitional Care Facilities (TCFs) to stay

TCFs set up during the pandemic to ease the workload in hospitals are set to stay for the medium or even long term. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said they are for medically stable patients from public hospitals who are waiting for long-term care arrangements such as nursing home care. These facilities will help address the rising hospital workload. A new TCF will be set up in the west in the next few months

📌 No more DORSCON

In its place will be a tiered framework that better reflects the severity of public health situations. The first tier will denote a peacetime state, while the fourth and most serious tier denotes a state of public health emergency. The new framework is meant to provide a more intuitive way to communicate the severity of a crisis. The law will spell out the measures to be taken at each tier, providing more clarity on what can be expected depending on the situation.

📌 Setting up of a new Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) 

The CDA will oversee disease preparedness, prevention and control, surveillance, risk assessment and outbreak response in Singapore. Minister Ong also said MOH will separately retain a permanent Crisis Strategy and Operations Group (CSOG) to maintain surge readiness for a mid-sized outbreak and other health emergencies. In peacetime, the CSOG will help operationalise Healthier SG, Singapore’s major preventive health strategy that will start enrolment in July.

📌 S$140m of expired COVID-19 vaccines

About 15% of Singapore's COVID-19 vaccine doses worth S$140 million have expired. Minister Ong said Singapore had "deliberately over-procured" to mitigate the uncertainty of selected vaccine candidates not working, and the possibility of supply chains being disrupted. This meant having spare vaccine stock, which would expire. Singapore has tried to donate spare vaccines but there have been no takers because of an oversupply of vaccines worldwide.

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/singapore-came-through-pandemic-well-without-spending-excessively-lawrence-wong 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/the-gist-mps-discuss-new-public-health-situation-framework-care-facilities-and-stiffer-drug-laws 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/care-facilities-set-up-during-covid-19-pandemic-to-become-permanent-new-one-coming-up-in-the-west 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-infectious-disease-control-ong-ye-kung-3362496 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-communicable-diseases-agency-outbreak-response-covid-19-white-paper-debate-3362421?cid=FBcna 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/expired-covid-19-vaccine-140-million-dollars-insurance-premium-white-paper-debate-3362376

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[10:45 am, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Maintaining TCF to move long term care patients to relieve the hospital workload is timely - as the queue in hospital is getting longer and patients in A&E or patients require hospital beds have to wait a long time to be admitted.

2. Agree that tiered framework with well defined pandemic scenarios and what broad actions to take for each tier - will provide healthcare, government resources and population a clearer ideas how to respond and react in each tier.

At the same time, the budget to be set aside for each tier will also give the finance ministry an indication how much to spend for each tier.

3. Having a dedicated and specialised unit CDA to oversee, plan and strategise - will ensure a better response to future pandemic in terms of mobilising medical resources, vaccination strategy, setting aside healthcare facilities etc.

[10:45 am, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. As for $140 million wasted for expired vaccines to secure vaccination for the population - it is a pity looking at the figure.

But compare to the amount expended on circuit breaker for healthcare costs, business cost and job loss that run into multiple billions of dollars as well as serious illness and death - the amount wasted is a meagre sum.

5. If our medical specialists has not bet on every possible vaccination and secure the best vaccination for our population - it will burn billions more through lockdown or human casualties.

6. We are able to bounce back strongly economically with good exit plan protected by vaccination with minimal casualties as compared to the world.

We can't achieve perfection with totally no wastage in an imperfect world.

Imperfection is a perfection as long as we learn from previous lessons and experience - and strive to improve and do better.

[10:49 am, 22/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: What will happen if person didn’t take vaccine when he or she fall seriously disease and new outcome name create diseases X. Unknown the future.

[10:52 am, 22/03/2023] +Dan: I see the 140million that was spent on vaccines just like insurance coverage. If you dont need it, the money goes to the company. If you need it, the vaccines are available readily. Thank you for buying the "insurance" for us.

[11:55 am, 22/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: I think gov got the appropriate people to lead us thru this crisis. 

Sure things could be done better in hindsight but at that time with limited information, they did what was right and best for the nation. 

$140m “wastage” is something unavoidable. We don’t want a draconian state and force people to do what they don’t want to do.

AAAA+++

[0:05 pm, 22/03/2023] +65 9880 7258: As per what some have mentioned, 140million looks big on its own, but divide across the nation thats like 30 dollars per person. like an insurance that protected us for 3 years. 

the review and update to DORSCON protocols and CDA are appropriate because scientists are cautioning us of new diseases in future. 

As our population ages, the need for care facilities will increase the load on existing healthcare institutions, we need to encourage healthier living and active ageing to improve our country's overall quality of life. 

All in all, I think we are in the right direction.

 

 

[0:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Understand the reason why cannot be made public in full as requested by opposition.

[0:57 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I think the topic highly sensitive.

Not for public domain and discussion.

[1:06 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[1:08 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Having more than having less.. is unavoidable…

There is likely MOQ in order to secure the amount of vaccine or queue better in the supply chain

[1:09 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Secure early got 1st mover advantage.

Also better pricing, goodwill plus access to privilege information.

[1:10 pm, 22/03/2023] +65 80321288: I don't see what's wrong with having more vaccines.  However, more effort could have been made to donate them before they expire.  How can it be that there are no takers?  How about those poorer nations in Africa or less privileged countries right here in South East Asia?  Surely there would be some who would take.

[1:19 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[1:49 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: By the way, Pfizer has conducted various clinical trials, and they are published in medical journals

(First clinical trial over adults)

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110345

(Trial on adolescents)

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107456

(Trial on children)

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa2116298

(Trial for boosters)

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2113468

The trials involved 44000, 2000, 2000, 23(!) people respectively. But they show that the Pfizer shots cause more harm than good. This is a good analysis:

https://rumble.com/embed/voaxg5/?pub=qdzr7

Pfizer should be compensating Maddie De Garay, but they haven't.

[1:51 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: Sorry to ask , I would like to ask how much is each vaccine ? how much is use in local and non local .

[1:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: This is the screenshot from the Pfizer trial on 44000 adults. (See appendix of that paper) As we can see, there are more deaths in the vaccinated group than unvaccinated group.

[1:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: I would like to second this. Why are we paying for free vaccines for foreigners and PR?

[1:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: 😳🤷‍♂️

[1:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Caleb: So far no countries charges for Vax right?

[1:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Caleb: Lol

[2:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

Parliament continued debating the White Paper on Singapore’s Covid-19 response on Tuesday. 

In his closing speech, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that Singapore fared well in saving both lives and livelihoods relative to other countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, and did so without spending excessively. Key to that was the trust that Singaporeans had in the Government to make the right decisions, and in one another, so as to endure the tough measures needed to tide the country over the crisis, he added.

💬  What are your views on the measures introduced at the parliamentary debate on the White Paper on Singapore’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic?

Here are some key takeaways:

📌 Transitional Care Facilities (TCFs) to stay

TCF…

[2:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: For the trial on adolescents, there is one life threatening case. Presumably, this case is Maddie De garay. You should be able to find her mother trying hard to let the whole world know about her case on rumble.com.

[2:02 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: (also find this page in the appendix of the trial for adolescents)

[2:03 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: With such data, it should have been voluntary for people whether they want to take the vaccines or not instead of linking jobs or visiting malls to vaccines.

[2:06 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Has the issue of employment and movement for the unvaccinated been cleared!?

[2:08 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Not too sure about eating out.

[2:14 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://mobile.twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1607416119496945665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

After Elon musk bought Twitter, he released files related to censorship of covid information.

[2:21 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Freedom of speech/press!?

[2:50 pm, 22/03/2023] +~L: Not sure how 'free' it is... Elon spent $44bn haha

[3:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: It's personal for Elon musk

[3:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1601894132573605888

Expand the replies to see this particular comment he made

[3:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: There is another comment by Elon musk himself saying that he has a young cousin who had to go to the hospital for myocarditis.

[3:09 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1616701931719884804?lang=en

[3:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Elon musk has lifted the bans of some people who were banned on twitter after he bought Twitter.

[3:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Yes. Trump is back

[3:17 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Nowadays it is Ron de santis who is more likely to get support.

[3:18 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iulvEmAmtcQ

[3:20 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://stevekirsch.substack.com/p/live-now-covid-19-mrna-vaccine-accountability

[3:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I just think the us political scene is just toxic to the extreme

[3:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Both sides are just bad and totally partisan . They don't care bout the country

[3:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: U see how many lawmakers have stocks in companies

[3:29 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: They directly influence legislation and impacts their stocks

[3:29 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: How that is not a huge conflict of interest

[3:29 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: @~Fulgrim Agree fully. Same for the vaccines. Which in turn has huge impact all over the world.

[3:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: The us had a good run but it's decline is inevitable

[3:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Unless the whole political system changes from the roots

[3:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Which isn't gonna happen

[3:38 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Riots expected across America if he us arrested!

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Yep. Us is very polarised now

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Trump isn't any good but biden isn't much better either

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Basically both are just puppets though shocking as it is

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I think trump is more of his own person than biden

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Will get worse!

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Biden is a safe pair of hands

[3:39 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Yes

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: It might not be possible to donate the vaccines because of contractual obligations with Pfizer. Unfortunately, we do not know what the contracts with pfizer look like.

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: To those who are the real power behind the throne

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Mentally!?

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Mentally inept

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Yup

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: That's why safe mah

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: 🤣

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: He won't get ideas like trump for example

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Trump is not an insider

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Nuclear trigger!

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I worry for our future

[3:40 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Lone ranger!

[3:41 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Singapore will kena either way

[3:41 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: This tightrope not easy to walk

[3:41 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Even with LKY around also no guarantee . Now worse

[3:41 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: meaning too inept to cause permanent damage

[3:41 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: We don't have such calibre

[3:41 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Too inept to have his own ideas and not listen to his pupeteers

[3:42 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: As our PM LHL said some time ago

[3:42 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Yeah

[3:42 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: U see the tik tok saga

[3:43 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: We also kena pressure to support us

[3:43 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Ludicrous. Our own ministers use tik tok

[3:43 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Telling that none of our neighbours followed

[3:43 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: Migrate to Douyin.

[3:44 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I think Facebook and other us tech giants lobbyed the us gahmen to ban it

[3:44 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: They will buy it over

[3:44 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I hear FB has stopped paying their creators in anticipation of the ban

[3:45 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Anyway I uninstalled FB long ago

[3:48 pm, 22/03/2023] +Umar M: You do realise you’re typing on WhatsApp right now which is owned by Meta (Facebook)?

[3:49 pm, 22/03/2023] +REACH: Dear contributors, 

please be reminded to keep to the topic that is being discussed. We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!

Megan 😊

[3:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I actually use telegram more than WhatsApp. Waiting for reach to migrate 🤣

[3:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +Caleb: +1

[3:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: A bit hard… telegram is for much younger group

[3:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: And telegram lots of spam as well

[3:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Unless you are paid account

[3:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I think the biggest issue is how to ensure we will have fastest access to sufficient vaccines when the next pandemic comes

[3:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Meta trying ban tik tok in America

[3:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Having plants here help

[3:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: But ultimately, those companies are gonna have u by your vitals ...

[3:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Business and country standpoint should lol

[3:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Us pharma is totally capitalist to the extreme

[3:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: It is just business

[3:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Yes

[3:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5A2ZkW8pUWg

The EU is also having problems of unused vaccines as well. Cristian Terhes is outraged that the EU ordered 4bn vaccines, which is 10 times the EU population.

[3:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Yeah but when it impacts life and death then maybe u need to have other considerations

[3:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: It ain't a luxury

[3:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +Umar M: You should just use Signal

[3:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Agreed but hor, cannot work without gms

[3:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I use Huawei phone leh

[3:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: No GMS

[3:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: 5 eyes alliance cannot spy on me now

[3:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Lol

[3:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: can use lighthouse?

[3:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I think the biggest issue is whether the vaccines are even tested with randomised controlled trials to see whether they work at all. It looks like one is better off not taking the vaccine.

[3:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Exactly

[3:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: But lighthouse also cannot

[3:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Signal Is anal

[3:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Hahahaha

[3:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: In an emergency , I think you don't have the luxury

[3:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Sure will have collateral damage one when u rush medicines

[3:58 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Sacrifice for the nation lor... I know it's inhuman but Singapore has always been society over individual

[3:58 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Ah, but if it turns out that they cause more harm than good, why bother with such " vaccines"? Can we even call them vaccines?

[3:58 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: 😳😁

[3:58 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Not that I am supporting it but I can't think of any other choice unless we willing to open up slower to let other country be Guinea pig first

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Either die of vaccine or die of from no money

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Lolololol

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: U won't know for sure. Proper vaccine testing and approval is 2 yes

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Years

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Maybe if no money, then won't die of vaccine!

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Cannot wait that long right ?

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: In Singapore money is everything pls

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Hahahaha

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Umar M: Use paper cups and string the best.

[3:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Umar M: Can't tap

[4:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: We should make the vaccine makers be liable for damages. That way they will have incentive to make a good product, and people will be more confident of the vaccines.

[4:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

Parliament continued debating the White Paper on Singapore’s Covid-19 response on Tuesday. 

In his closing speech, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that Singapore fared well in saving both lives and livelihoods relative to other countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, and did so without spending excessively. Key to that was the trust that Singaporeans had in the Government to make the right decisions, and in one another, so as to endure the tough measures needed to tide the country over the crisis, he added.

💬  What are your views on the measures introduced at the parliamentary debate on the White Paper on Singapore’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic?

Here are some key takeaways:

📌 Transitional Care Facilities (TCFs) to stay

TCFs set up during the pandemic to ease the workload in hospitals are set to stay for the medium or even long term. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said they are for medically stable patients from public hospitals who are waiting for long-term care arrangements such as nursing home care. These facilities will help address the rising hospital workload. A new TCF will be set up in the west in the next few months

📌 No more DORSCON

In its place will be a tiered framework that better reflects the severity of public health situations. The first tier will denote a peacetime state, while the fourth and most serious tier denotes a state of public health emergency. The new framework is meant to provide a more intuitive way to communicate the severity of a crisis. The law will spell out the measures to be taken at each tier, providing more clarity on what can be expected depending on the situation.

📌 Setting up of a new Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) 

The CDA will oversee disease preparedness, prevention and control, surveillance, risk assessment and outbreak response in Singapore. Minister Ong also said MOH will separately retain a permanent Crisis Strategy and Operations Group (CSOG) to maintain surge readiness for a mid-sized outbreak and other health emergencies. In peacetime, the CSOG will help operationalise Healthier SG, Singapore’s major preventive health strategy that will start enrolment in July.

📌 S$140m of expired COVID-19 vaccines

About 15% of Singapore's COVID-19 vaccine doses worth S$140 million have expired. Minister Ong said Singapore had "deliberately over-procured" to mitigate the uncertainty of selected vaccine candidates not working, and the possibility of supply chains being disrupted. This meant having spare vaccine stock, which would expire. Singapore has tried to donate spare vaccines but there have been no takers because of an oversupply of vaccines worldwide.

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/singapore-came-through-pandemic-well-without-spending-excessively-lawrence-wong 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/the-gist-mps-discuss-new-public-health-situation-framework-care-facilities-and-stiffer-drug-laws 

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/care-facilities-set-up-during-covid-19-pandemic-to-become-permanent-new-one-coming-up-in-the-west 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-infectious-disease-control-ong-ye-kung-3362496 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-communicable-diseases-agency-outbreak-response-covid-19-white-paper-debate-3362421?cid=FBcna 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/expired-covid-19-vaccine-140-million-dollars-insurance-premium-white-paper-debate-3362376

[4:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Yes

[4:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: By then pple die liao, our gahmen don't have too much leverage to sue this large pharma MNC lor

[4:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Population not big enough

[4:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Then they threaten pull out all the plants

[4:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Small country really tough

[4:03 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: ( often times $ comes first , hidden or open agenda ) 

The truth is out.  Pfizer Executive admits that they their vaccine is not designed to end the pandemic but to turn it into an endemic so that the demand of their vaccines will continue forever and give them the opportunity to make a lot of money selling their vaccine. Once the pandemic becomes an endemic, just like the flu, all those who have already been vaccinated will need to continue to receive a booster every year or so.

https://youtu.be/WZnlC-eUCoo

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I m not surprised at all

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: U go watch those documentary on us pharma

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Greed is good one

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Like wall Street

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Genentech used to have a drug for some cancer

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/30/WS63d737b3a31057c47ebabd0e.html

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Some doctor discovered it can also be used for eye disorders by change

[4:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Chanve

[4:05 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: He was sued and forbidden to use it for that purpose depsite proven clinical success

[4:05 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Pfizer lost court case and required to disclose all the serious side effects.

*Congratulations to those who were not vaccinated!  *

    Your persistence is absolutely wise and correct!  *

    FDA loses case!

    Pfizer forced to disclose vaccine side effects data!

    9 pages of side effects!

   The whole world was stunned.

   US168 Information Network 2022-03-05 02:1

cardiomyopathy, acute respiratory failure, injection site vasculitis, seizures,

    alopecia areata, anaphylactic shock,

    Anaphylaxis of pregnancy, aplastic anemia, thrombosis,

    Arrhythmias, arthritis,

    Asthma, bronchospasm, cardiac arrest,

    heart failure,

    Chest discomfort, choking, chronic autoimmune glomerulonephritis,

    chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus,

    chronic spontaneous urticaria,

    hemolytic anemia,

    colitis, dermatitis,

    diabetes,

    disseminated varicella zoster,

    Embolic cerebral infarction,

    Endocrine disorders, pruritus, swollen eyes, facial paralysis, genital herpes,

    glossopharyngeal nerve palsy,

    hemorrhagic vasculitis,

    cervicitis,

    lupus cystitis,

    lupus encephalitis,

    multiple sclerosis,

    neonatal myasthenia gravis, myelitis,

    noninfectious oophoritis, thyroiditis,

    Ulcerative proctitis.

    The above is more than a thousand kinds of reactions, not limited to the side effects / physical discomfort symptoms that many people have.

   It is the choice behavior that hurts oneself out of fear...

    Out of 46,000 people tested, 42,000 had adverse reactions!  1200 people died!

    Did you hit?

    Nothing fun!  Nothing fun!

    Unvaccinated people!  

    *Congratulations on keeping your immune system functioning properly.  *

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9C0ETAd9IOPTRMzZjDu1Tw

[4:05 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Genentech later launched the same drug under a diff name with 10x the price ...

[4:07 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Lol you spy by china 😂

[4:07 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: All study when money is involved… I believe will have Bias some way

[4:09 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Unless is official news… take it with a pinch of salt

[4:09 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Lol, honestly I think not really possible. China doesn't have the company and overall integrated ecosystem in Singapore to do it

[4:10 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Like WeChat, wepay, alipay etc. No social credit score

[4:10 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I always feel if u don't use integrated services , they cannot track it.

[4:10 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: U

[4:10 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Plus I go by facts and not media bah

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Edward snowden and Cambridge analytical is smoking gun liao

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Yes

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I don't see any china scandal for this yet

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Even for tik tok

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: The is data is actually stored in the us by oracle

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Not in china

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: That's why people don't see the negative reports of the Pfizer vaccines, even when they are in top medical journals with the Pfizer email addresses.

The moderna and various other vaccines are the same.

[4:11 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Oracle is us company

[4:12 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Why the Huawei saga… err you read the whole story lor… but of course US have everything to gain as well… since Huawei taking up market share

[4:12 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Yah I know it's political

[4:12 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: 5g and Huawei was eating Samsung and apple's lunch

[4:12 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: WHO hints China still holding back on actual accuracy of visit to their labs!

[4:12 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Murica is the biggest donor to WHO leh

[4:13 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Murica die die to need to find something to do war with china

[4:13 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: My opinion lah, they really scraping bottom of barrell

[4:13 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I look at scientific journals and all agree it's natural transmission

[4:13 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: One fail study is money down the drain… company will in all effort prevent it from happening..

[4:14 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I rather than trust scientists than politicians on science 🤣

[4:14 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: That's why people don't hear about Maddie De garay and other vaccine injury victims.

[4:14 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Try saying what country made it… see you be in the banned list or not lol… or related countries. Scientist need funding as well

[4:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: Data Bias is very easy… 😂

[4:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I think it's just natural lah. No one make it in a lab

[4:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: You choose what to omit… as long as you can justify the omitting

[4:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: You don’t have to report why you omit it.. lol

[4:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: If so then their own pple won't die right ? If china made it why don't open up. It can sell and send the antidote and vaccine and make big bucks and good woll

[4:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Sometimes I despair at the lack of common sense

[4:15 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Lol

[4:23 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 1. 

My take on why PRs and foreigners should be offer free vaccines in Singapore:-

a. They form more than 2 million people out of 5.7 million population.

Imagine they are charge for the vaccines and they refuse or cannot afford to jab - the 2 million become a big reservoir of infected groups that will help to spread to our citizens.

This becomes penny wise pound foolish.

b. Many countries offer free vaccination to foreigners including Singaporeans residing in the foreign countries.

If we are mean to foreigners, foreign countries can be equally mean to Singaporeans.

Then Singapore international standing in the world become very small.

[4:25 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I think that if PRs and foreigners were made to pay, then there it opens up the option of them not paying and hence not getting the vaccine.

This would be a situation some Singaporeans will want: not to get the vaccine in the first place.

[4:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I think PRs should get

[4:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Foreigners can be offered but at a cost

[4:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: U need to distinguish

[4:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Then construction workers how?

[4:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: And honestly , many countries do it

[4:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Company pay 🤣

[4:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Business costs

[4:27 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: They (the construction workers) would rather save any money rather pay for the vaccines, especially when they got the actual sickness and recovered from it.

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I go to many countries , locals get special entrance fees and rates for attractions . Tourists pay more. We don't have this in Singapore

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: So distinguishing is quite common

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: And accepted internationally

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: No. Some places Singaporeans with pink ic go in for free.

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Really ah

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Where ? Tell me pls

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I like free one 🤣

[4:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Museums and sorts.

[4:29 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I only know Singapore discovery center get special rates but I think that one is for nation building or something

[4:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I been to all sorts of museums for free.

[4:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Can't think of other categories off my head though.

[4:31 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. The topic about anti-vaxx have been robustly discussed during the coaxing of residents in Singapore - whether citizens or non-citizens - repeated many times.

2. More than 90% of our population got 3 jabs - mainly mRNA with minority on non mRNA.

3. Singapore as a result able to exit the pandemic safely to endemic.

Together with many billions of people jab with mRNA vaccines and many more millions with non-mRNA vaccines - vast majority emerged with good health and without long term side effects with the vaccination after 3 years.

4. Kudos to our medical specialists that have formulated the vaccination program for residents in Singapore - that make us able to emerged pretty well from the covid pandemic.

[4:32 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I got my 3rd jab only because it has been linked with getting a job. I got strange chest pains, and I still got covid later. I hope the chest pains don't lead to anything serious.

[4:33 pm, 22/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: The contributions from PR and foreigners far exceeds the cost of vaccines. Is ok to give back a bit to them. 

The faster and more people get vaccination, the faster the virus spread will die out. 

That’s good for everyone. We can carry on with our lives faster and contribute to economy faster.

[4:34 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

2. The dorm mass covid infection shows how covid spread like wildfire not only to the dorm workers but also to the community at large - until everyone got vaccinated.

This shows that if we have stinge or mean to the foreigners - it backfire on us.

No one is safe until everyone is safe.

I remember one of our Minister in the task force say it - and he is absolutely right.

[4:37 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://twitter.com/Rob_Roos/status/1579759795225198593?lang=en

[4:37 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: But Pfizer themselves admitted that the vaccine was not tested to stop transmission.

[4:43 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: My father in law passed away less than 36 hours after his Pfizer vaccine. He was old, but still he didn't pass away on his own free will.

[4:45 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: My condolences to you.. 

some people have very bad reaction.. but no choice. 

Every jab I will be down 1 week Atleast with high fever

[4:45 pm, 22/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: Pls take the time to check it out. Go thru polyclinic to get referral for scans etc. Now is the time to make use of your pink i/c to use the taxes u paid and God willing, continue to pay.

I pray that it will be nothing.

[4:45 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Then he should have done the forensic to determine if the cause is due to the vaccination.

If yes, he will be cover under the vaccination injury insurance program and MOH will report this case to the public at large.

[4:45 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: They can’t give some don’t give some… I just have to hope for the best..

[4:46 pm, 22/03/2023] +Ken: My neighbour father in law also hospitalised after the jab. Lucky he recovered

[4:47 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I have many old parents and parents in law - 80 or 90 over years old - vaccinated 3 or 4 times - in good health.

Few hundred thousand in old age groups got vaccination without any problems.

[4:47 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: I have done my fifth

[4:47 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I had an ECG that didn't show anything abnormal. Hope it is not serious.

[4:48 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: May his soul rest in peace for all eternity

[4:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Is there a 5th injection? I thought 4 is the max

[4:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I only did 3 . Still thinking whether to do the 4 th 🤣

[4:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Not a fan of over stimulating the immune system

[4:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: The immune system is a a finely tune machined. Upsetting the balance can lead to many issues

[4:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: Touch wood so far everything ok. No COVID

[4:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: ECGs are very surface level tests for heart function. If you can, go get more tests done. Echocardiogram etc if you suspect there might be an issue.

[4:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: A bivalent of the earlier two.

[4:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[4:55 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

So far only 1 death is reported directly related to the vaccination.

And he is a young foreigner.

[4:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Yes

[4:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: We should have done a randomised controlled trial. Then we can see whether the results are similar to what Pfizer themselves got.

[4:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: (recall the Pfizer trial results for adults)

[4:58 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: (and adolescents)

[4:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Fulgrim: I think most pple's worry now is that the vaccine has longer term side effects that won't be know until much later

[4:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: (Original sources here)

[5:12 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: 22 March, 2023

"Working Against Time (提前准备)"

"Treating a patient is a zero sum game, either cure or not so or no! Caring for a patient is a humanistic skill, importantly, CARE is the driver of a winning formula!"

- - anonymity 

Which targets?

CARE: Compassion, Agility, Resilience, Empathy. 

It takes time to fine tuning our medical competency to a higher level of exceptional service.

Heart, Brain, Lung are three vital organs to protect, it is life or death if any one organ fails.

One key enabler is to identify up to 20 most common chronic or recurring illnesses within our (aging) population.

     - - in progress - -

[5:14 pm, 22/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

China do the vaccination for younger people instead of the elderly first.

This lead to many China elderly refused to vaccinate when protest is going on to force the government to open up.

When open up, many death are elderly who are unvaccinated - more than 10 over thousands in every province 

We vaccinate all the elderly and old age group first.

And when we open up, no visible big increase in elderly death or other age groups.

Hence it is our medical specialists foresight that set Singapore in good footing to emerge from pandemic to endemic.

And we must not take away the credit and smear the good and sound judgement in the vaccination program.

[5:18 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: Frankly i agree with u vaccination is good.  if that time all country co-operate not to let covids out of china it will be better every one scare of economy collaspe do the wrong path. in the end still lock down . I will say the 10,000 petition to lock border are also very good foresight.

[5:18 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[5:18 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: Now we still have to jab every year made me worry

[5:18 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Sigh

[5:18 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: in fact when i 70 i sure i may get more worry

[5:18 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Likewise

[5:19 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: next time dont offer free hospital to tourism should lock them up instead knowing got covid still flood to sg

[5:21 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: if need can assign them old changi hospital.

[5:22 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I think the science has shown quite conclusively that the vaccine causes more harm than good.

But there should be a way to "discourage" people from taking the vaccine in case the government wants to gracefully " admit" that the vaccine causes more harm than good, other than lifting restrictions based on vaccination. It can just not send SMS reminders for vaccination, or send fewer reminders for a start. I got 3 reminders for my 3rd dose, but only got 2 for my potentially 4th.

[5:23 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Haunted!?

[5:23 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: Where got haunted just a great place to self reflected only.

[5:24 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: So, our government brain washing the electorate into accepting!?

[5:24 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: frankly i not a scientist but i see the pro and cons . So must get the optimal level . i confirm covid wont be the last

[5:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +KL: It really trigger underlying condition but it do protect some ppl from getting long covid. So it gov decision to think and implment  measure. it one self to think inculde measuring ur condition.

[5:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: Think the harm/good is debatable? 

Why do you say it cause more harm than good?

Bringing down the mortality from severe COVID is definitely a plus.

[5:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I think even with perfect scientific data, we should have let people take the vaccines out of their own free will voluntarily, instead of linking jabs to jobs and malls and other things.

Also, the scientific data is just bad.

[5:27 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: From this

[5:28 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Has it been shown to bring down mortality from severe covid?

[5:29 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: See also the 2 tables I repeated here.

[5:29 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: I think the data on this is pretty conclusive?

[5:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: or to put it another way. If covid hits an unvaccinated population vs a population that is vaccinated. who will die more?

[5:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Then can you show me a reference from a reputable medical journal?

[5:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: this should be the simple bench mark

[5:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: There is a greater needs now to scale up hospital beds. Three things, heart, brain and lung.

[5:30 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: The vaccinated, according to Pfizer's own trials.

[5:31 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: link please

[5:31 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: .

[5:31 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: .

[5:32 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: I dont know if I'm reading the right link but the paper says the vaccine works?

[5:33 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: You have to read carefully.

[5:33 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: BNT162b2 continued to be safe and have an acceptable adverse-event profile. Few participants had adverse events leading to withdrawal from the trial. Vaccine efficacy against Covid-19 was 91.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89.0 to 93.2) through 6 months of follow-up among the participants without evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection who could be evaluated. There was a gradual decline in vaccine efficacy. Vaccine efficacy of 86 to 100% was seen across countries and in populations with diverse ages, sexes, race or ethnic groups, and risk factors for Covid-19 among participants without evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2. Vaccine efficacy against severe disease was 96.7% (95% CI, 80.3 to 99.9). In South Africa, where the SARS-CoV-2 variant of …

[5:33 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://rumble.com/embed/voaxg5/?pub=qdzr7

See this video and find whether there is anything wrong

[5:33 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: sorry - this is psudo sciene analysis

[5:33 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: You can't rely on their own conclusions

[5:34 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: she's nit picking

[5:34 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Can you point out where the analysis is faulty then?

[5:34 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: can'tr be bothered to listed to unaccredited bumblers

[5:35 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: When it comes to science, you evaluate all info regardless of source.

[5:35 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: 1) Credible peer reviewed sources

[5:35 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: not all sources

[5:36 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: The articles I sent you have a Pfizer email address

[5:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: 1) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110345

Funding for this is definitely fishy. But

If I'm not wrong, all the initial clinical trials for all the vaccines were done inhouse?

They were all publishing their own results?

[5:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: I mean I'm not saying this is not fishy

[5:52 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: but they all did it?

[5:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Economic circumstances don't allow mass own choice to vaccination.

[5:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[5:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I like the way you put it. "Economic circumstances". Pfizer and moderna can never make enough money.

[5:54 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: To each their own

[5:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: There is a certain process for these things. Such clinical trials have to be registered at clinicaltrials.gov (or something like that), which they did. The number is somewhere there, and you can search the trial from the trial number

[5:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2110345

One thing good about a Peer viewed platform like the NEJM is that if this research was total bullshit, someone would have shot it down

[5:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: And I dont see any one citing it

[5:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: The trial is then given to supposedly independent trial researchers.

[5:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: I think you mean shooting it. It is definitely well cited

[5:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: In normal cases yes. But you forgot a dispensation was granted due to covid. Pfizer, moderna, sinovac etc etc all did and published their own trials?

[5:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: yeap - this

[5:58 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: Only skimmed, but I dont see anything major shooting it

[5:58 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Oh, there are people shooting it down, just that you don't see it.

[6:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

Parliament continued debating the White Paper on Singapore’s Covid-19 response on Tuesday. 

In his closing speech, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that Singapore fared well in saving both lives and livelihoods relative to other countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, and did so without spending excessively. Key to that was the trust that Singaporeans had in the Government to make the right decisions, and in one another, so as to endure the tough measures needed to tide the country over the crisis, he added.

💬  What are your views on the measures introduced at the parliamentary debate on the White Paper on Singapore’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic?

Here are some key takeaways:

📌 Transitional Care Facilities (TCFs) to stay

TCF…

[6:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: If they're not shooting it on a peer reviewed platform, it's not really credible?

[6:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +TD: It's like TOC/EDMW levels of TCSS....

[6:01 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: https://rumble.com/vokrf7-sen.-johnson-expert-panel-on-federal-vaccine-mandates.html

Organized by senator Ron Johnson. Scientists speaking. I hope I got the right video. It is one of those videos by Ron johnson

[6:04 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: Go to the 1.51.00 mark or so

[6:05 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: By Peter doshi

[6:06 pm, 22/03/2023] +Jeffrey: There are articles in the bmj (British medical journal) critiquing the Pfizer results.

[6:25 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: "Benefits over costs", a policy making 101 rules..."

- - anonymity

[6:26 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[6:27 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Andrew, good evening!

"Choices or limited choices or no choice!"

Thank you.

[6:45 pm, 22/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[6:53 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: The broadband is narrowing drastically!

[6:55 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: Yes!

[6:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: That makes decision making tougher and so do limited choices and resources to spread!

Thank you.

[6:56 pm, 22/03/2023] +Rama: Sigh

[6:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: Never say impossible and never give up! That is always breakthroughs and hopes!

Thank you.

[6:57 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: Something to soothe today hot chats.....

[6:59 pm, 22/03/2023] +Smiley face: EVERY...

100 years or less, a global change of power, order, natural disasters, climate change and pandemic.

40 years, since WW2, US army transformed itself to new doctrines, weaponries and logistic. Three traditional military forces Land, Sea, Air converging with Cyber force and Space force with AI and human to form a complete defence and/or attack force (fighting net), faster and further.

20 years, after WW2, up to 2 billions human produced.

20 years, after WW2, changed in the world demographics, birth rates and migration trends.

20 years, after WW2, is one new generation in the making.

15 years, after WW2, economics slowed down and financial turmoils.  

           - - in progress - -

10 years, after WW2,  newer and advanced technologies been intr…

[7:00 pm, 22/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====

REACH 437 -  What are your views on the survey results? What more can be done to support youths and those with multiple dependents?

(SK)

 20 Mar 2023 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

[10:03 am, 20/03/2023] +REACH: 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 different 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://go.gov.sg/reach-whatsapp-terms

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 😊

[10:05 am, 20/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

A survey which was commissioned by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) from Jan 31 to Feb 6 found that 72% of Singaporeans were positive about overall quality of life post-pandemic. However, a higher proportion of youths aged 15 to 19 reported a drop in their quality of life. This was especially so for the areas of mental health and relationships with friends. The report also showed that those who had multiple dependents reported a drop in their quality of life post-pandemic.

The survey, which collected a total of 1,052 responses from Singaporeans aged 15 and above, also suggests that trust between citizens and the Government and amongst citizens strengthened over the course of the pandemic.

💬  What are your views on the survey results? What more can be done to support youths and those with multiple dependents?

Addressing the findings of the survey, Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo said, “Covid-19 was a very bleak period for many of us. It was a time of heartache as our gatherings with family and friends were restricted, a time of anxiety as our daily activities had to adjust along with the uncertainties of the pandemic.” 

Mrs Teo also highlighted the importance of maintaining a high level of trust in the Government and amongst citizens: “Even as we emerge stronger from the Covid-19 pandemic, we should do our best to sustain this high level of trust and social capital so that we can draw on this deep reservoir of trust to deal with the next crisis.”

This survey commisioned by MCI comes ahead of a parliamentary debate on the Government's White Paper on COVID-19, which was published on March 8. The White Paper acknowledged areas in which Singapore did well, such as managing the capacity of our healthcare system and supporting livelihoods. The country also did well to procure and roll out vaccines for the population. However, the White Paper also acknowledged that sone aspects could have been better handled. For example, safe management measures were over-calibrated and not always consistent, and there were slip-ups in handling outbreaks in migrant workers’ dormitories.

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/7-in-10-s-pore-residents-emerged-from-covid-19-in-good-shape-but-a-higher-proportion-of-youth-report-drop-in-quality-of-life-survey

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-residents-positive-overall-quality-life-post-covid-19-pandemic-government-survey-3357876

👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/what-singapore-did-well-in-handling-the-covid-19-pandemic-and-where-there-were-lapses

👉 https://www.mci.gov.sg/pressroom/news-and-stories/pressroom/2023/3/poll-by-mci-finds-7-in-10-singapore-residents-positive-about-their-overall-quality-of-life-post-pandemic

----

[10:28 am, 20/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: To be able to give views of survey results, we need info of how the survey was done (electronic, face to face, etc) and what was the sampling population.

[10:28 am, 20/03/2023] +Yinnia New: Oh l see

[10:29 am, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Yeah

[10:45 am, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: "There is only one way out! That's to live life and move forward!"

- - anonymity

[10:48 am, 20/03/2023] +Dan: According cna 1052 respondents

[10:49 am, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Selective to give a favourable outcome but still should be 1% of local population across all income, household and education types.

[10:56 am, 20/03/2023] +Yinnia New: Yes l r good education health for diabetes ,how?

[11:16 am, 20/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: As for the measures taken, generally it was great for general citizens.

token implementation was a disaster. first government in order to get citizens buy in, said that privacy would be maintained. everyone got on board. then later government did a big u turn  and said that the information would be shared with police and can be used in court of law it so warrants it. that really got me upset as i felt i was hoodwinked and cheated. that's the problem with own self check own self.  just because i sat beside some unknown offender in a food centre or at a bus stop, there is a possibility that i could be hauled into court for questioning and waste my resources to defend myself.

then there was MOM. i have friends supplying workers to construction industry and they told me that the rules kept changing.  at one point, they were not even allowed to bring workers with them to buy food for their group.  only the bosses could.  for small setups, that means the boss himself had to do it!  imagine going to sheng siong and foodstuff for 20 of your workers every few days by yourself.

[11:23 am, 20/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: thank you for cna pointer.

i can already see one major problem:  "Polling was done online and involved 1,052 Singapore residents aged 15 and above."

it missed out a whole segment of residents who are not online for one reason or another.

give u an example of how  skewed results can be if sampling and population are not considered carefully. i sat at Ikea Alexandra branch for lunch and looked at the sample of cars that went by.  i would wrongly conclude that singaporeans are very rich because all of them are driving luxury cars, bmw, mercedes, etc.  if we look at the surrounding area, the luxury car workshops and show rooms are just beside Ikea.

[11:46 am, 20/03/2023] +Tank KL: What is this Whatappt about

[11:49 am, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Ridiculous without explanation

[11:50 am, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Agree. Slip shop survey!

[11:50 am, 20/03/2023] +Rama: What's up!?

[0:31 pm, 20/03/2023] +Caleb: +1, just like the charging of plastic bags

[1:54 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Notice that someone cast doubt about the sampling size and the accuracy of the sampling - to determine the sentiment of the survey respondent - whether it is representative of the population sentiment.

2. Survey to sense the sentiment of the targeted population - are based on sample size and sampling.

It is not possible to survey the entire population.

3. Hence sampling and sample size must be representative to be useful to draw conclusion.

4. Sample size are determined by:-

a. The size of the population

b. Margin of error

c. Confidence level

d. Formula to find the sample size

5. Sampling are determined by :-

a. Identifying the target audience from the total population.

b. Specify the sampling frame.

c. Specify the sampling method.

d. Determine the representative sample size.

e. Implement the survey.

6. As for online poll, it doesn't means that only people with access to IT devices will be picked to do the online poll.

Survey researchers can call up people without online access via telephone, person-to-person interview - and do the online poll via the tablets or smartphone done by the survey reseachers.

7. As long as the above steps are scientifically and conducted statistically objectively - the conclusion drawn from the survey can be representative and conclusive.

[2:01 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: A selection of 1000 odd respondent is not a picture of the general public opinion.  Just too small.

[2:03 pm, 20/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

A survey which was commissioned by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) from Jan 31 to Feb 6 found that 72% of Singaporeans were positive about overall quality of life post-pandemic. However, a higher proportion of youths aged 15 to 19 reported a drop in their quality of life. This was especially so for the areas of mental health and relationships with friends. The report also showed that those who had multiple dependents reported a drop in their quality of life post-pandemic.

The survey, which collected a total of 1,052 responses from Singaporeans aged 15 and above, also suggests that trust between citizens and the Government and amongst citizens strengthened over the course of the pandemic.

💬  What are your views on the sur…

[2:03 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Big sample size if pick not randomly also will be skewed and non conclusive.

Most important, the sample group being picked are not biased and representative of the general population.

[2:04 pm, 20/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: >Survey researchers can call up people without online access 

did researchers do this?

[2:04 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: As the public have no idea on how the selection process was done, questions asked and answered, I am skeptical on the result

[2:05 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: 🤷‍♂️

[2:05 pm, 20/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: yes, me too.

[2:05 pm, 20/03/2023] +Terrie Wong: I second that

[2:06 pm, 20/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: Just like the poll they did many years ago, "Is singapore ready for an indian president?"

[2:06 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: My sentiments exactly!

[2:06 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: Well, 

I was picked for a couple of survey on public sector annually.

I received telephone call participating in online poll.

The researcher read out the question and I say my response, she mark the responses on her tablet.

[2:07 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Good for you

[2:10 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Among the surveyor are MediaCorp media survey, rysense and a couple of other researchers.

You will be surprised that there are many overlapping questions - a myriad that cover different topics - but give a very good general sense of population sentiments.

Because questions coming from different perspective - will uncover the underlying sentiment of the person under survey.

Difficult to forge or hide the genuine sentiment or feeling.

[2:11 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Agree

[2:12 pm, 20/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: i hope the researchers followed the pointers that Danny listed out. but until they have a footnote on how they did the survey and allow the public to check, i remain skeptical.

[2:13 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Likewise

[2:14 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

And with the advent of data science, data analytics, machine learning, deep learning, generative Pre-trained Transformers plus other advanced AI - the statistical analysis are getting more accurate.

[2:15 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Because wrong conclusion can result in wrong policy formulation.

[2:17 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: I still feel selective survey results.  Data details not shown in print media or government online search engine .

[2:21 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. In my context, the quality of lives for my family, my extended families and my close friend family post-pandemic - indeed are comparable to pre-pandemic or better.

We do not suffer a fall in quality of lives.

2. As all our children are grown-up, some join the workforce and some still studying in Uni - and does not belong to the 15 - 19 years age group - hence cannot comment on the mental stress or drop in quality post-pandemic.

3. Generally, most of us are quite happy that we do not suffer financial loss or job loss that impact our family financially comes post pandemic.

4. The only exception is the high inflation - food cost and other cost-of-living such as energy prices, more expensive consumer goods.

[2:36 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

5. Those who are working got salary increment and bonus.

6. Those in Uni do well in their exam.

7. So generally no decrease in quality of life - either the same or better.

8. Only the inflation spoil the fun and dent the income.

[2:43 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Future Pickings?

Age groups - 16 yrs to 86 yrs

Income groups - low, mid-low, mid, mid-hi, high

Household Income - single, double or more

Socio - self, worker, professional, big boss

Expenses - monthly and yearly 

Education - skilled to tertiary 

Gender - equal

Marital Status - single, married, divorce

Dependents - child to parents 

Race - four major races

Public housings - rental, under financing, owned

Private housings - under financing and owned

Transports - public and/or private 

Tech - savvy, on the way, lag

SMEs - smallest stalls (self) to the bigger businesses (boss)

Citizens, PR, Foreigners?

[2:44 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Frightening scenario!

[2:49 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Deeper Analytics,

Good afternoon, Andrew.

Thank you.

[2:50 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Is society prepared!?

[2:52 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Either you are prepared or not well prepared !

When things happen, you need deep analytics!

Are you prepared?

Thank you.

[2:52 pm, 20/03/2023] +Poh S. Lim: * Dependents may also include extended family e.g. siblings, and grandparents (to be more inclusive)

[2:52 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Not sure

[2:52 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Poh, good depth!

Thank you.

[2:53 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Then best to prepare for many unknowns coming!

Thank you.

[2:53 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Yes

[2:54 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: "Think straight and don't think slanted (crooked)..."

- - anonymity

[2:54 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Consider deviation

[2:55 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Standard deviation at most up to 5%

[2:55 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Returning to normal?

"There is only one way out! That's to live lifes and move forward!"

- - anonymity 

One big bug, this Covid has driven the world upside down! It is contained and controlled through known means...?

[2:59 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Until disease X starts a new cycle!

[3:04 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Build these variables into a "FAMILY TREE", in a digital platform!  

Who you are, your members, your friends, colleagues and who were your former family members and extended members  and friends etc?

Family Tree?

[3:04 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Besides X, there will be Y and Z!

[3:24 pm, 20/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Material Status - Single, married, divorced 

Because Singaporean people will live in future how they burden earn from employment. 

Most of them stay single 

Most of divorced 

Most of less married

[3:29 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Frankie, good insights!

Thank you.

[3:32 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Pro creation policy takes a back seat!

[3:55 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: "The meanings of life have shortened post Covid. Work to live, to pay bills, to avoid financial embarrassments, to take care of family and to stay healthy,... so many things to consider,...to remain single is perhaps an easier way out for a person's lifetime?"

- - anonymity

[3:57 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Sad but possibly true!😳🤦‍♂️😞

[3:58 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: The younger ones...A big shift in MINDSETS of the young!

Are they political savvy or simply do not care much unless...?

Thank you.

[3:58 pm, 20/03/2023] +Terrie Wong: Am here at KKH at Children's A&E after nearly 3 hrs & still haven't got my granddaughter to see the Dr !

[3:59 pm, 20/03/2023] +Ken: 😂 always….

[3:59 pm, 20/03/2023] +Ken: 2 to 3 hours is normal

[3:59 pm, 20/03/2023] +Ken: Unless you are emergency

[4:00 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Terri, good afternoon!

What causes the Q?

Thank you.

[4:00 pm, 20/03/2023] +Terrie Wong: According to statistics, a psychologist said an unmarried woman by choice has better mental health

[4:00 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: How about the Q at Polyclinics?

Thank you.

[4:00 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Political savy and simple don't bother!

[4:01 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Why so?

Resilience? Or less responsibilities?

Thank you.

[4:02 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Unless...

Thank you.

[4:02 pm, 20/03/2023] +Terrie Wong: Too many patients, not enough doctors. 

- We had priority at the Polyclinic earlier because she had extreme pain.

[4:03 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Unless out of the picture!

[4:03 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Ok, too many patients and fewer doctors and specialists.

For this, MOH should relook to ramp up to meet the upfront demands.

Thank you.

[4:04 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Self interest will take the 'front' of each mind, regardless of age!

Thank you

[4:04 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Yes

[4:05 pm, 20/03/2023] +Caleb: And gov want to have more babies. 🙊

[4:05 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: One human nature!

Politicians and Bosses should know it in their minds!

Thank you.

[4:05 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Planning screwed up somewhere along the line!

[4:06 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Caleb, in good afternoon!

It's all about replacement and replacing or a nation will attrit to no point of return!

Thank you.

[4:08 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Country (Family) planning is to take the position of a twenty year cycle...

Simply, a baby born today, in 20 years, she or he will become economically  productive!

Thank you

[4:08 pm, 20/03/2023] +Rama: Still, !?

[4:09 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: Every 20 years is one generation. The rest are gaps to fill them up!

Thank you.

[4:09 pm, 20/03/2023] +REACH: DPM Wong: Singapore to set up dedicated center for public health and forward planning team to prepare for future pandemics:

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-review-white-paper-lawrence-wong-disease-pandemic-control-3359576 

📌 DPM also highlighted the importance of Singapore’s financial reserves, while also acknowledging that there were areas where the government could have done better.

Covid-19 frontliners given standing ovation in Parliament: 

👉 https://str.sg/iZcg

[4:11 pm, 20/03/2023] +Ken: 🤷🏻‍♂️

[4:38 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Generally, my rating of government performance during the 3 year pandemic and post pandemic is 8 or 9 out of 10.

2. However my rating of plastic bags blanket charge vis-a-vis the need to bag home refuse to maintain good hygiene is 4 out of 10.

3. But in terms of rating for sustainability, budget meals, green energy, alternative meat etc , my rating is 8 or 9 out of 10.

[5:29 pm, 20/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the survey results? What more can be done to support youths and those with multiple dependents?

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

Megan 😊

[5:39 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

4. Eg. Housing I rate it as 7 initially - due to high resale prices, long waiting time, high BTO prices.

5. But Minister National Development make a spectacular recovery - by giving higher grants for family or with children, increase HDB supply, reduce demand, shorten BTO waiting time etc.

6. I give the Ministers and Ministry a rating of 9 - for the spectacular recovery.

[5:52 pm, 20/03/2023] +KL: So you know how this survey was carry out ? maybe can share with us ?

[5:53 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I don't know.

[5:57 pm, 20/03/2023] +lesli: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pritam-singh-full-covid-19-white-paper-report-review-workers-party-3359601

issues of transparency .. 🤔

[6:02 pm, 20/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I have participated around 10 surveys in the past 3 years.

Some very bizarre ones - eg. Defense, internal security, even have international relationship.

[6:45 pm, 20/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[6:50 pm, 20/03/2023] +Smiley face: 20 March, 2023

Returning to normal?

"The meanings of life have shortened post Covid. Work to live, to pay bills, to avoid financial embarrassments, to take care of family and to stay healthy, so many things to consider,...to remain single is perhaps an easier way out for a young person's lifetime?"

- - anonymity 

One big bug, this Covid has driven the world upside down! It is contained and controlled through known means...?

The recovery of this world is underway whether at home or in the workplace! The trajectory of hopes are showing positive signs of both tangibles and intangibles will get better as time moves on. This is the general expectations of the human race, this world, unless the next bug comes sooner than later?

So how is this post Covid era going to improve and what ways will life be better than yesterdays?

Adaptation is one strong human innate attribute whenever change occurs out of natural or man created disasters! From lockdowns to WFH to HBL, life's is back to normal spacing and pacing! That's the first happiness to billions of people.

The second happiness is to be able to contain the stubborn inflation and minimising the impact from the latest financial turmoil of the failed banks in US and Europe.! This new uncertainty will not only kick down the recovery from the pandemic, worse to introduce new painful measures of QT(quantitative Tightening) or go back to the old ways of QE (quantitative easing)? Either method will not relieve inflation and the prices of daily necessities and a bigger threat of global slow down unseen since post WW1 ?

Third happiness is to be cautiously optimistic than pessimistic over the coming unknown challenges and changes to our way of life and to secure our livelihoods. The world (macro perspective) is on an inflection point of slipping downward for more harder times ahead. Ourselves (micro perspective) will have to be adequately prepared for such unfavorable outcomes that will hamper our recovery from Covid. One prudent means is by cutting non essential expenditures from private to public.

"There is only one way out! That's to live lifes and move forward!"

- - anonymity 

Preamble, there is only one way out of this mess, that is to hold on to what we have now, what we know and how are we going to deal with the complex economics of stabilising lives and securing livelihoods?

All things on hold, we are entering into a "perfect storm" totally no prior experience, nor history to take reference, and the eventual exposures will be a bigger pain for the billions of people whether you are the wealthy lots or worse off the average wage earners! Simply, no safe haven nor escapement from the coming reset?

    - - in progress - -

[7:01 pm, 20/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

=====

REACH 436 -  What are your thoughts after reading the results from the Makan Index 2.0 study? How else can the Government better support Singaporeans in managing their costs of living?

(SK)

 15 Mar 2023 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

[9:49 am, 15/03/2023] +REACH: 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 different 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://go.gov.sg/reach-whatsapp-terms

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 😊

[10:01 am, 15/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

At Budget 2023, the Government announced enhancements to the Assurance Package (AP) and the permanent GST Voucher scheme to help Singaporeans tide through the rising cost of living. The enhancements include one-off support measures under AP such as the Cost-of-Living Special Payment and additional CDC vouchers.

Amid the rising cost of living, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), named Makan Index 2.0, was conducted. The study found differences in food prices across regions in Singapore as well as between two time periods (Sep-Nov 2022 and Jan to Feb 2023). 

💬 What are your thoughts after reading the results from the Makan Index 2.0 study? How else can the Government better support Singaporeans in managing their costs of living?

The Makan Index 2.0 study was done by recording food and drink prices from 829 food establishments (92 hawker centres, 101 foodcourts and 636 coffee shops – across 26 residential neighbourhoods) between September and November 2022. 50 food establishments comprising 263 individual stalls were then revisited earlier this year after the GST hike.

Key highlights from the results of the Makan Index 2.0 study:

📌 Across the 26 neighbourhoods visited, it was found that drinks as well as chicken chop were the cheapest in the central region of Singapore. Breakfast sets and fishball noodles were cheapest in the north of Singapore and roti prata was cheapest in the western region.

📌 Food courts generally priced their offerings at higher prices, followed by kopitiams and then hawker centres. However, prices of breakfast sets, chicken rice, economic rice and vegetarian bee hoon sets varied from this trend.

📌  The total average cost of three meals a day in hawker centres, foodcourts and coffee shops was $16.89. When comparing between neighbourhoods, researchers found that the differences in costs for lunches and dinners to be statistically significant.

📌 Most stall owners did not increase their prices, while a majority of those who did did so by only a small margin, for fear of driving customers away. The average increases in prices at these revisited stalls did not exceed S$0.30, and did not go above S$0.10 for most food items.

👉🏼 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2023-more-help-for-singaporeans-to-cope-with-rising-costs-gst-hike

👉🏼https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/prata-is-cheaper-in-the-west-while-kopi-is-cheaper-in-central-s-pore-ips-study

----

[10:38 am, 15/03/2023] +Caleb: Bishan got no hawker center

[10:40 am, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: 15 March, 2023

Comparative Analysis:

What is the PRICE range, AVERAGE and MEDIAN for each geography, region by region, by townships, by FC,KT,HC in the N,S,E,W zones?

Using a palette of food choices that is coffee, tea, eggs & bread, roti prata, mee, chicken rice, variety rice, nasi padang?

     - - in progress - -

[11:01 am, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Complex analysis?

"Geometric, using all connectivities at specific angles, shapes, points and areas to derive into a measured centric."

- - anonymity

[11:57 am, 15/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your thoughts after reading the results from the Makan Index 2.0 study? How else can the Government better support Singaporeans in managing their costs of living?

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

Megan 😊

[11:58 am, 15/03/2023] +Rama: Hopefully, f and b will be cheaper!

[0:13 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Andrew, good afternoon!

Hopefully, rental would be lowered?

Thank you.

[0:15 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

7. I think what hit people most is food cost.

 Food cost increases at least 3 times:-

a. Once when global inflation hit.

b. CNY one more time.

c. GST another time.

In the longer run, government should need to rein in food price increases.

8. Also noticed that coffeshop owners are privatised seems to be bidding high - and then charge high food prices in the neighborhood.

9. Feel that the government should nationalise some coffeshops and hawker centre around the neighborhood to keep rent down and food prices down - so that neighbourhood food prices are kept affordable.

[0:15 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: What's the operational costs, comparatively say for FC, KT, HC.

What's the price range and differences in % and incrementals?

Thank you.

[0:17 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

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.                                                                                                                               https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/budget-food-hawker-coffee-shop-hdb-budget-2023-3317681

[0:17 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My eyes swelling with tears.

我好感动。

At least now lower income group, unemployed, students and retirees got a decent meal to eat at neighborhood coffeeshops...

[0:22 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Home cooked/prepared foods are  the most affordable choice? 

Next is Hawker centre foods?

[0:23 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Serangoon food prices average food prices increase more than national average.

Way beyond 30 cents increase per meal.

Eg. Serangoon NEX, central, garden, north.

Increase 3 times - inflation one time, CNY one time, GST increase one time.

[0:25 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Coffeshops food prices and food courts prices hike very steep.

Drink stalls prices increases also very steep.

[0:26 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Cannot find any budget meals in all the Serangoon vicinities.

[0:27 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Last time, I buy "peng cai".

An old man packet one rice, and ask for only curry sauce gravy without any meat or dish.

The stall owner sell to him and collect only $1 from him.

I almost wanted to tell the stall owner to give him the curry chicken plus one vegetable.

But I hesitated because I afraid the old man may feel offended.

After I make up my mind, the old man packet his rice and walked away.

[0:29 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Last time one peng cai stall use to sell budget meal at $2.70 to elderly - one meat, 2 Vege and one rice.

Then the kimly remove the budget meals - and hike the food prices very high.

Now cannot find any food stalls offering budget meals for elderly retirees.

[0:33 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: 15 March, 2023

Value and Savings?

How much is a cup of coffee or tea at Hawker Centre?

A simple chore of coffee powder or tea leaves and your personal effort and time? 

Home brewed coffee/tea will allow you to calibrate the sugar or milk, will save money and at the same time minimise the use of foam cups or the needs to wash glass cups at the Hawker centre? 

Only Hawker Center allows you to bring your home brewed coffee or tea and consume it.

Will it be a hassle or wasting time brewing at home?

       - in progress - -

[0:34 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Even when packet food, food stall start to charge 20 cents per container.

Then some stalls start to charge 30 cents per container.

Wonder will the stalls start to charge plastic bags per purchase or not come July 2030.

[0:35 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: How about plastic bags?

[0:35 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Plastic bags no charge yet.

In future don't know.

[0:37 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Danni, good afternoon!

COMING soon, akan datang!

Thank you.

[0:38 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Last time one meal $3.

Now one meal on average $5.

So food prices increase 60% per meal.

Wonder how do this office workers and retirees tahan?

Do their income increase by 60%?

[0:40 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Either you "self cooked" your meals and bring to work/school or you pay for all conveniences!

Two ways!

You need to pay for convenience!

Thank you.

[0:41 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

One banker told me, even their salary cannot tahan the food prices increase - as he is working in a shopping mall where the food court food prices increase like crazy.

He need to eat 3 meals per day.

[0:42 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Another good insight, thank you!

8% wage increase, consequentially 5% increase and 3%...that's into 2026/27.

[0:46 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Imagine a family of 4 people buy 4 food for 3 meals - with price increase from $3 to $5 - what is the burden on the single income household?

60% price hike X 4 times X 3 meals.

This is the burden that household is carrying.

[0:51 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My favourite chicken rice stall in my neighbourhood say they need to increase their food prices on 1 April 2030.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

But do continue to support us.

This is the notice the stall put up.

[0:57 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

The roti prata store - strike out plain Prata and write egg Prata $1.60.

I order the egg Prata, the stall owner say $1.80.

I say your menu say $1.60?

He take out a pen marker, and then change the menu price to $1.80 on the spot.

Those people eating in the coffeeshop look at us bewildered.

Price hike look like a new game.

I say thank you, I don't need the egg Prata and go to another coffeeshop to buy other food.

[1:04 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Baseline expenses for working adults, per month is $600 just to eat out up to two or three meals, daily x 24 days/month or (4.33 weeks per month)

Thank you.

[1:11 pm, 15/03/2023] +Dan: If we can ensure the hygiene of street food or food trucks, can we have it in Singapore. Juz like your pasar malam or Chatuchak market.

[1:21 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

If single income family for 4 person - he will spend $2,400 on food.

With $5,000 income per month, almost 50% spend on food.

How do this household survive with $2,600 left?

[1:24 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: One bowel noodle last time $3.50 still can fill our stomach. Now $5.50 a few piece meat & a bit noodle that cannot fill . All the food went up who going to help the needy family especially with few kids. One lunch can cause $30 to $40 with half full stomach

[1:28 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: In 1960s $100 can buy one lorry of food and stuff , 1970s $100 can buy half lorry of food and stuff.  1980s $100 can buy one quarter  lorry of food and stuff, 1990s can buy one van of food and stuff, 2000s $100 can buy one trolley of food and stuff, 2010s $100 can buy one basket of food and stuff, 2020s $100 can buy half basket of food and stuff, 2030s all eat grass, $100 can buy nothing for families.

[1:30 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Cost of living level standard how much salary worker earn and spent daily. Basic $1,500 deduct CPF take amount $1,200

Transport fare $50 

Meal 3 times a day $30

Billed $100

Allowance $500

Saving total $520

[1:31 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Expenses spent is fine

[1:31 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: The more the youngster the give birth , the more they eat grass with salary ranging $2500 per mth before CPF. How to cover the families basic needs which has no include medical needs.

[1:32 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: U are lucky - alone . For families , transport fare had gone up . home PUB also go up , Phone bill also go up , everything go up how to live

[1:33 pm, 15/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: I think government should relook at how NTUC is pricing essential food items.

NTUC is supposed to be the market leader in best prices because of its huge purchasing power.

eg: cost of rice in 2021 is about USD500 per 1000kg, USD5 per 10kg.  

When it comes to NTUC, it costs about USD20 per 10kg.

It has been reported in the newspapers that smaller players with their smaller purchased volumes were even able to buy fresh chicken at lower prices than in NTUC.

Tesco web site sold wine gums for GBP 1.  In NTUC, the same item cost S$2.55 (exchange rate is 1.8.  At one time the price jumped to S$3.50; after I wrote in, it went back to S$2.55.

So own self check own self is obviously not working very well.  Who is checking on NTUC to make sure that they are running …

[1:34 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: 1990s coffeeshop is great cheap

Kopi 60 cent 

Chicken rice $2

Prate Roti 50 cent 

Worker basic salary $900

[1:35 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: My mother and father told me story in old day no mobile colour just telecom page number

[1:35 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: From central to Jurong to work , MRT cause $4 plus, to & back , X 20days  = $80 plus in transport. Phone bill ? House bill ? Town Councils bills ? Makan $30 still ok .

[1:36 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: Now go everywhere need use HP to scan and scan , data free ? Even got no friend always stay at home, also need pay money

[1:37 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: They can seek help care.com for finance advise

[1:38 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: Wait long long , merry go round to all dept and get an answer of u are not eligible. Waste of time and effort and money going everywhere.

[1:39 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: They keep the pocket tight . It is not easy to apply . Need take leave to go all dept to give documents and get reject.  Gov not easy to apply . they love to play tai chi

[1:40 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: 😳

[1:41 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Go to see MP meet the people session.

[1:41 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: Our area so many old folk 50 plus above and needy go apply with all documents , they push them to all dept in the end got rejected.

[1:42 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: The world's top 10 most expensive cities (Source: EIU report, December 2022)

1. Singapore

1. New York

3. Tel Aviv

4. Hong Kong

4. Los Angeles

6. Zurich

7. Geneva

8. San Francisco

9. Paris

10. Copenhagen

10. Sydney

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has rated Singapore and New York as the most expensive cities to live in among the 172 featured in the Worldwide Cost of Living (WCOL) survey published earlier this month.

Singapore has topped this survey eight times in the last 10 years. Will the latest results (which see Singapore and New York push last year’s most expensive city...)

https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/worldwide-cost-of-living-2022/

[1:42 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: MP u wait long long , after few attempts, the staff tear away their number telling them no use after the MP had wrote in few times.  Hear this " Tear their Q number and shoo them off"

[1:42 pm, 15/03/2023] +Caleb: +1

[1:43 pm, 15/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: Another area where the government can help lower cost of food in hawker centre is to install drinking fountains in there.  That would promote healthy eating and reduce diabetes by allowing hawker centre food patrons the option of drinking 0 calorie drinks.  A meal+drink can be reduced by S$1.50.  Government would also save a huge amount by the reduction in obese and diabetic patients which can be used to further subsidise more vouchers.

[1:45 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: drinking fountains also need maintaince fee. the tube or pipe also will get rusty. In the end we will face more medical problem

[1:48 pm, 15/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: alternatively, if they find it too costly for drinking fountains, they can install more taps outside of toilets. our tap water is good enough to be drunk from.  if taps in toilets, to access them, sometimes must also pay.

[1:49 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: Taps water from pipe also , pipe will get rusty and maintain. who pay

[1:49 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Modern facilities alone, however, cannot compensate for substandard food. It is imperative that beloved recipes be preserved. And maintaining the low prices Singaporeans have come to expect from hawker stalls demands gains in cost efficiency.

Examples of how to achieve this include standardised crockery compatible with automated dishwashers, material finishes that are durable and easy to clean and, at a broader level, greater state involvement in administration instead of profit-hungry firms.

https://www.todayonline.com/voices/hawker-centres-30-should-be-air-conditioned

[1:50 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Possible the future hawker will have new air con and cost are equal

[1:50 pm, 15/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: PVC/copper pipe where got rusty? If installed properly, can last for years until the next renovation.

[1:50 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: Later people end up collecting water from for their home use with pails.

[1:51 pm, 15/03/2023] +Kenneth Lee WM: if they are willing to carry the pail of water back, i say let them do so. Good for their health, good exercise... 🙂

[1:52 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: Yup a good idea to make them exercise

[1:53 pm, 15/03/2023] +~S: Dun forget PVC /Copper after long use, they will have green slamy stuff. they still need to maintain it.

[2:03 pm, 15/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

At Budget 2023, the Government announced enhancements to the Assurance Package (AP) and the permanent GST Voucher scheme to help Singaporeans tide through the rising cost of living. The enhancements include one-off support measures under AP such as the Cost-of-Living Special Payment and additional CDC vouchers.

Amid the rising cost of living, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), named Makan Index 2.0, was conducted. The study found differences in food prices across regions in Singapore as well as between two time periods (Sep-Nov 2022 and Jan to Feb 2023). 

💬 What are your thoughts after reading the results from the Makan Index 2.0 study? How else can the Government better support Singaporeans in managing their costs of living?

The Makan Index 2.0 study was done by recording food and drink prices from 829 food establishments (92 hawker centres, 101 foodcourts and 636 coffee shops – across 26 residential neighbourhoods) between September and November 2022. 50 food establishments comprising 263 individual stalls were then revisited earlier this year after the GST hike.

Key highlights from the results of the Makan Index 2.0 study:

📌 Across the 26 neighbourhoods visited, it was found that drinks as well as chicken chop were the cheapest in the central region of Singapore. Breakfast sets and fishball noodles were cheapest in the north of Singapore and roti prata was cheapest in the western region.

📌 Food courts generally priced their offerings at higher prices, followed by kopitiams and then hawker centres. However, prices of breakfast sets, chicken rice, economic rice and vegetarian bee hoon sets varied from this trend.

📌  The total average cost of three meals a day in hawker centres, foodcourts and coffee shops was $16.89. When comparing between neighbourhoods, researchers found that the differences in costs for lunches and dinners to be statistically significant.

📌 Most stall owners did not increase their prices, while a majority of those who did did so by only a small margin, for fear of driving customers away. The average increases in prices at these revisited stalls did not exceed S$0.30, and did not go above S$0.10 for most food items.

👉🏼 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2023-more-help-for-singaporeans-to-cope-with-rising-costs-gst-hike

👉🏼https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/prata-is-cheaper-in-the-west-while-kopi-is-cheaper-in-central-s-pore-ips-study

[2:13 pm, 15/03/2023] +Dan: And u will have to ask the question, in a small island like Singapore, why the cost difference of food is rift apart? The food is not homegrown~ only factor i thought of is differentiation in rental prices~

[3:17 pm, 15/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your thoughts after reading the results from the Makan Index 2.0 study? How else can the Government better support Singaporeans in managing their costs of living?

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

Megan 😊

[3:27 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Makan Index 2.0 can we have a fair from area South, East, west and central 

Example chicken rice all stall $3

[3:28 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My chicken rice 1 plate $6.

[3:29 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Because of this area competition cost difference rental high and low or cheap or best foods rate star

[3:30 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Few months ago same set $4.

[3:30 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Another coffeeshop similar set $6.50 increase by another 50 cents a few weeks back.

[3:32 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Pay higher expenses and wage cost equal margin profit / lose

[3:32 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Residents seething with anger...

[3:33 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Setup hawker can sold 100 Customers per day 

$5 X 100 is $500 per week is $3.5k

[3:34 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

2 weeks ago vegetarian meal $4, 20 cents container for takeaway.

2 weeks later, all meals increase to $4.50, 30 cents container takeaways.

[3:35 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Price is reasonable if we received more CDC

[3:37 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

My neighbourhood stalls have not stop increasing food prices as some stall owners hint that more food prices increase to come.

Because down here, mostly coffeshops are private owned.

No hawker centre that are government owned.

Coffeshop just changed hand bought over by kimly who now own 2 coffeshops opposite each other - prices of foodstalls increase like crazy - and previous cheaper price foodstalls chase away.

[3:38 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

And many private own foodstalls only accept cash or paynow - don't accept CDC voucher.

[3:38 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: Because owner coffeeshop sold it to person investment setup and hike price.

Tampines coffeeshop sold $21m

[3:40 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: I don’t know why interested about coffeeshop investment instead F & B restaurants

[3:40 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Increase plastic bags charge - is like adding fuel into fire.

[3:53 pm, 15/03/2023] +m6dm6n: Dun just study makan index, standardised the prices.

[3:58 pm, 15/03/2023] +m6dm6n: Sustainability, Green initiatives, progressive wage model, all these add to the cost. If implement all at the same time, the cost is unbearable

[4:15 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Kimly just bought over the coffeshops.

Look at the price of the food. See whether neighbourhood can tahan or not.

[4:16 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

$6, 7, 8, 9, 10 per meal.

[4:16 pm, 15/03/2023] +Frankie Wee: May be I said coffeeshop will become private

[4:18 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Previous food stalls sell for $2.70, $3, $3.50, $4 - now all chase away.

[4:30 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

And they don't accept CDC voucher.

[4:31 pm, 15/03/2023] +Rama: One step is one halal and non halal economy dish.

[4:31 pm, 15/03/2023] +Rama: Hang in there.

[4:31 pm, 15/03/2023] +Rama: Hope car lite brings about a cleaner and general environment for future.

[4:31 pm, 15/03/2023] +Rama: Hawker food might not control msg!

[4:31 pm, 15/03/2023] +Rama: Government incentive, and people education mindset must understand the need to save the environment fir future.

[4:35 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Hi Andrew,

Home cooked food, you can control salt and sugar, healthier, also cooking oil too.

One way to save a bit of money and be healthy too.

Thank youm

[4:46 pm, 15/03/2023] +Rama: Try one dish for lunch and dinner per day if possible.

[5:21 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: Good idea, Andrew!

Thank you.

[6:11 pm, 15/03/2023] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢

At Budget 2023, the Government announced enhancements to the Assurance Package (AP) and the permanent GST Voucher scheme to help Singaporeans tide through the rising cost of living. The enhancements include one-off support measures under AP such as the Cost-of-Living Special Payment and additional CDC vouchers.

Amid the rising cost of living, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), named Makan Index 2.0, was conducted. The study found differences in food prices across regions in Singapore as well as between two time periods (Sep-Nov 2022 and Jan to Feb 2023). 

💬 What are your thoughts after reading the results from the Makan Index 2.0 study? How else can the Government better support Singaporeans in managing their costs of living?

[6:45 pm, 15/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[6:47 pm, 15/03/2023] +Smiley face: 15 March, 2023

To: Our Distinguished Leaders and All Honorable Members 

Budget and Values (个人预算)?

(A) Most working adults have limited choices when it comes to "makan" lunch and "Lagi" dinner. Either they eat lunch in FC, KT, HC, F&B outlets and also for dinner too. 

(B) For seniors and retirees, they too need to have their daily two or three meals (makan) at home or at HC or KT. When it comes to the price range of FC,KT,HC it is obvious that Hawker Centre foods are the most affordable. They also tend to be price sensitive because they "seen and compared" the prices of goods and foods over the past one or two or three decades so it is natural for our MG and our PG to 'feel the pinch' when paying for food outside of the home.

(C) As for schooling students (7-15), it is expensive to eat at KT or FC. The school canteen food prices are the lowest for them to afford during the morning and noon and/or afternoon breaks.

For our youth (16-24), they tend to be more willing to spend (memakan) on beverages (or fast foods) whether it is a cup of gourmet cappuccino or latte.

For this entire "makan sutra 2.0", "tak boleh tahan'?

Yes, prices for "out of the home" cooked foods whether it is HC, KT, FC or Restaurants have all increased and will continue to rise too!

How can we budget our food expenses and other expenditures in this escalator of prices?

We can either consider cooking our lunch and pack to work and or to school together with a hot cup of coffee or tea or soft drinks from the fridge. It can be an alternative to healthier food intake, greener and saves money.

We must also treat ourselves and our family, on occasions or weekends, to a few nice meals at the FC or Restaurant.

Just don't be overly worried at the same time Budget your expenses from food to shopping and buy Values.

We have to live LIFE just a bit HAPPIER even in moments of tough times (苦中作乐)! 

Recommendations:

More GST Vouchers (2023/24)?

1) For households or individuals with $4,500 monthly income or less or retirees will have $300 vouchers, 4 times over 2023, total $1,200.

2) For households or individuals Income of $4,501 to $7,999 will receive $200 voucher, 4 times over 2023, total $800.

3) For those monthly income of  $8000 to $12,000 will get $100 supermarkets Vouchers, 4 times over 2023, total $400.

4) The income earners from $12,001 onwards, they are able to weather the "perfect storm".

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/12/world-most-expensive-cities/#:~:text=New%20York%20and%20Singapore%20have%20been%20named%20the%20most%20expensive,sharpest%20rise%20for%2020%20years

     - - in progress - -

[6:57 pm, 15/03/2023] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Last time got many stall support Belanja Eat to low income people.

But now many stall drop out and instead charge high price.

[7:00 pm, 15/03/2023] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====