REACH 194 - Which part of Budget 2021 resonate with you (SK)

17 Feb 2021 (11am - 7pm)

REACH

[10:51 am, 17/02/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,

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[11:00 am, 17/02/2021] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

💬 Which Budget 2021 measures resonate with you? 

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat delivered the Budget 2021 statement in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 16). This year's Budget, titled Emerging Stronger Together, combines measures to help families, workers and businesses weather the COVID-19 crisis in the immediate term, with measures to accelerate structural adaptations for the long term. 

Some key highlights are: 

▶️ S$900 million Household Support Package to help families with expenses 

▶️ S$5.4 billion boost to SGUnited Jobs & Skills Package to support hiring of 200,000 locals and provide up to 35,000 training opportunities this year 

▶️ Jobs Support Scheme extended for worst-hit sectors as part of S$11 billion COVID-19 Resilience Package 

▶️ Support for low-wage workers, lower-income families, children with special needs and charities 

▶️ More incentives to encourage early adoption of electric vehicles 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/budget-2021-heng-swee-keat-emerging-stronger-covid-19-singapore-14208888 

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/budget-2021-singapore-jss-household-support-package-covid-19-14209224

[11:05 am, 17/02/2021] +Ben: All 5 listed are good measures, in the order you have listed.

[0:17 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

In the order of preference:-

1. Create jobs, keep jobs, provide training to help to secure jobs. (Government provide fishing rod so that people can fish on our own - is the best).

2. Support worst hit sectors so that when pandemic is over - the business and workers can stand on their feet.

3. Support for low income families and provide some financial assistance to household to help tying over the pandemic come next.

4. As for electric vehicles - not enough charging points. Also not sure whether electric vehicles are reliable - still a question mark.

[0:21 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. One happy thing to note, our Sovereign funds again has shine - as they earn a higher NIRC passive income in 2021 compare to last year.

2. 2021 - $19.56 billion.

2020 - $18.14 billion.

3. A 7.8% increase - very good performance.

[0:22 pm, 17/02/2021] +Caleb: 👍

[0:22 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-makes-covid-19-vaccines-compulsory-allows-for-private-vaccination                                                                                                                     Indonesia is the 1st Country that make covid-vaccination compulsory.

[0:25 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. And notice something, Indonesia decides to make covid vaccination compulsory - I think the 1st Country to do so.

2. Should observe how they are doing vis-a-vis how Israel, UK, US are doing who adopt voluntary stunt (but are progressing well in their vaccination efforts).

[0:32 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I can't see any charging points in HDB estate, private housing and condo.

Imagine buy an electric car, how to charge?

Or drive to somewhere, run out of battery, where to charge?

Got to call tow truck.

[0:45 pm, 17/02/2021] +Alvin: It’s good for all the budget measures but $11b for the JSS and Resilience Package a wee bit too much.

[0:45 pm, 17/02/2021] +Alvin: My 2.14 cents

[0:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: Hdb: I've seen some at jurong east area,

Condo: the place I work at already has them installed.

To install the charging station, it is not as easy as it seems, the upfront cost is high and not many is willing to spend that amount for the 1-2 individual, especially in mcst setting (private property)

[0:52 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

That's is why buying electric cars now is a risk.

Not enough charging points.

Reliability a question mark.

[0:53 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: Unless someone up there drop some heavy incentives

[0:56 pm, 17/02/2021] +YT: So, I am wondering whether electric cars are any cleaner than combustion engine ones.  What generates the electricity to run these cars?  In my opinion, it's shifting the emissions from cars to the power plants.  Unless and until there are ways to generate clean energy (solar, or other means), electric vehicles will only be a cosmetic solution to the climate problem, at least in the context of Singapore.  Incidentally, there were no clean energy mentions in the budget.

[0:57 pm, 17/02/2021] +Caleb: Buying clean energy from Malaysia or Australia right?

[0:58 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Clean energy is not cheap 😅

[0:59 pm, 17/02/2021] +Caleb: I thought we very clean liao

[0:59 pm, 17/02/2021] +Caleb: With natural gas

[0:59 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Lol a way to drive economy and prepare and understand then economy of EV overseas to see if we can have a role in it

[0:59 pm, 17/02/2021] +Caleb: And incineration

[0:59 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Precisely .. that’s why the culprits are the petrol cars generating co2

[1:00 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Incineration is more for waste treatment to reduce land fill only... by product is electricity

[1:00 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Ev is a new industry where We can participate and grow with it

[1:00 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I'll be standing by if anyone bothers about my opinion

[1:01 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Will be the next big thing I guess.. hence we keep trying to woo big EV companies to setup here

[1:01 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: So we can have supply chain capacity

[1:01 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: ?

[1:02 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Ifs the sophisticated components and technology that we want to be in

[1:02 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Electric car price still very high, some higher than petrol car.

[1:02 pm, 17/02/2021] +Caleb: I guess the key here is to reduce total vehicle population?

[1:02 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: It will just go cheaper when the cost of battery falls

[1:02 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Not easy to move like pharma

[1:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Hence we looking into bring them in

[1:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Also can provide for the rest of the Ev that will eventually pop out

[1:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes . Agree . Thus we got to initiate and hope to gain some first mover advantage

[1:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: automotive standard is similar to pharma super hard to replace once confirm

[1:04 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Cause if the paper work involved

[1:04 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes .. manufacturing as well as communication protocols .. it is the compliance part that we got our SG brand to uphold the standards

[1:06 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Supply vs Demand, as always

[1:12 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Electric cars are cleaner than ICEVs only on the street 

What you said about shifting emissions is totally true, and some people will brand this as "big oil agenda" when it's not. It's simply us seeing the truth for what it is. 

And what is the truth? E-mobility is just another excuse for people to get rich under the guise of "going green" 🤢🤮. Raw battery materials as we know it come from mines, meaning they're non-renewable (school term, anyone?) 

Yes, some companies vow to avoid cobalt since it's also infamous as a conflict raw material (Congo, anyone?) but ultimately no matter if it's Lithium, Manganese or whatever, these are all limited. Plus, mining them are even more polluting. And when you manufacture batteries out of them, pollution adds on. 

The transition is simply happening too quickly which is why we need to reduce the number of EVs through the advocacy of shared mobility (despite the pandemic).

[1:13 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I remember there was this news clip from ABC Australia that "Singapore has not made any moves" or something like that even though yes, this was a high profile piece of news many months back

[1:13 pm, 17/02/2021] +Alvin: 👏🏻👍🏻

[1:13 pm, 17/02/2021] +Alvin: Very well articulated bro

[1:14 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: 👍🏻

[1:15 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: And that is true. But people never stop at "very clean liao". 

As much as we know that natural gas burns cleaner than coal, people simply don't choose to stop at that and want even cleaner alternatives. So people talk about photovoltaic, wind, tidal, nuclear even. 

As per my last rant, it's up to the NCCS to find the most viable solution out of all the evils out there. No energy source is truly clean. 

Solar: Clean first, toxic later 

Wind: Well land is an obvious issue 

Tidal: Not strong enough 

Nuclear: Is a no-brainer

[1:16 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: We have a role to play especially with Hyundai/KIA (they're actually part of the same group for those who don't know) investing here to build a smart factory to manufacture EVs 

Too bad we have to play ketchup on the world stage, or we will lose out in many ways, while it may not be the best for our country, or the world at large

[1:17 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: And it's a good by-product 

Waste-to-Energy is one of the good innovations out there

[1:18 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: The government will no doubt work on introducing more incentives to encourage the purchase of EVs (something already seen elsewhere in the world). 

Reaching cost parity with ICEVs isn't too far-fetched as compared to a few years ago now

[1:20 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: The End game for SG  is to compete with a advantageous Carbon footprint . Currently  SG is at a huge disadvantage.

[1:35 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Oh yes to add on, 

ICEVs are obviously unclean 

And to some out there, EVs are not clean, they're merely "cleaner" because of the particulates from braking 

See, even when the traditional emissions isn't there from the tailpipe anymore, people still talk about other forms of emissions that were unheard of before EVs were a thing 

And this is just talking about the tailpipe, without accounting for the shift as YT and I mentioned just now and before respectively

[1:37 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Well, you're right. We need to use solar, tidal and wind to generate electricity with less enviornemntal damage. That us happening. With EV there is also no smoke blowing in the faces of children as they walk to school.

[1:38 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Yes, we can be a world leader in this tech.

[1:39 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Don’t think so... we are a bit slow in that field don’t even have car manufacturers here 😅

[1:40 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Thumbs up to Shared Mobility!

[1:40 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I have also mentioned something about maintaining diesel vehicles before. Back then when Euro 5 (or EEV) was the latest standards, you can already see black smoke coming out from some of the buses 

The importance is maintaining your vehicles so even though they are diesel, they will still be "as clean as can be"

I won't be surprised if I see any Euro 6 buses emitting smoke cuz SBS Transit's maintenance is simply a joke

[1:43 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: No? https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/construction-hyundais-electric-car-manufacturing-plant-singapore-begins

[1:43 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Lol so did dyson, only up and running then consider bah

[1:43 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Also apart from full electric, we should also look into hydrogen fuel cells (that disappeared into oblivion many years ago when we had those YOG buses from Higer) and there's biogas to look at as well 

Of course if we want to look at the TCO, we have to account for the total expense (as well as the pollution at the expense of the environment) when we import whatever we have to import 

The nearest biofuel source we have is Malaysia as per a World Biogas Association report I read recently

[1:43 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Many suppliers lose tons of money on dyson first round

[1:44 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I doubt Hyundai/KIA will do a runner like Dyson dyd cuz they do have all the intention to look for talent and had this acceleration programme I mentioned before

[1:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Fair point

[1:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Furthermore, it's not just on the mobility front since the plant itself is touted as a "smart factory"

[1:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Not sure these are well suited to SG roads?

[1:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes we are playing catch-up .. SG is light years behind when come to EV.

[1:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: The TESLA now on sale in Singapore..

[1:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: You're concerned about the top speed and acceleration right? LTA confirm will limit one, they also not so stupid one lol

[1:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Yup DBS have loan for Tesla also

[1:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Yes, drivers here are not very proficient. Hope the Tesla can self park....

[1:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Esp with the recent Tanjong Pagar incident, highlights the concern about speed all the more

[1:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Education too, such a sad story.

[1:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: They are all youngster that are doing quite well in life 😔

[1:50 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: This can ultimately be better monitored with the advent of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Perhaps someday a system can monitor overspeeding, over-revving, etc 

I believe ITS can help us a lot in the near future

[1:54 pm, 17/02/2021] +Valli: 👍

[1:54 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Satellite tracking, which I understand us coming, will spot this

[1:55 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Satellite tracking of every vehicle might be a little too intensive, but perhaps matching a vehicle's top and average speed to the max and average speed band of a specific stretch of road of concern to LTA/TP could help in safety

[1:58 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Leveraging on the ERP 2.0 interface, that itself can be a V2X (Vehicle to Everything) kind of technology 

No more SAF 9th Core Value (for those who get it) once ITS solutions such as this are implemented

[1:59 pm, 17/02/2021] +Valli: All cars in Spore should come fixed with a speed limit where they cannot go above this limit. 

Just sad that 5 young lives just gone with the wind. And leaving their parents & families really heartbroken.

[2:01 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Rather than fixed limit, there's this geofencing technology in the ITS world which could be used so it can further improve safety and we could couple this with that rough idea of mine of detecting what stretch of road a vehicle is on and then applying the limits accordingly 

So let's say instead of a uniform max of 90 or 100 km/h for all roads, every road (and stretch) has its different speed limits

[2:01 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: Commercial vehicles has a beeping device that is activated when going above the set limit but nothing more.

[2:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +Valli: Every night at Clementi Ave 6 , can hear cars revving and zooming pass at high speed . 

I hope the authorities can look into this.

[2:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +YT: Five lives lost because of their own doing. If they were pedestrians walking and minding their own business but got mauled down by speeding driver, then it is an accident. In this case, it was self inflicted. Never mind how successful they were, how charitable and caring they were. This was preventable and avoidable.

[2:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Lol CTE every night also have lor

[2:06 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Here's a slide from some ITS4Climate webinar I attended - while the focus of this webinar was climate, we can also see some safety aspects included in this

[2:08 pm, 17/02/2021] +richard Wong: When driving EV to malaysia, where to charge when battery running Low ?

[2:09 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Another point everyone should also worry about is even when they have the charging facilities, will they match the standards of whatever the cars have? I know some organisations like CharIN are trying to standardise the same standard across the ASEAN region but I haven't heard much from them afterwards

[2:12 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tanjong-pagar-crash-video-shows-girlfriend-of-driver-running-straight-into-burning-car                                                                                                                      

Very graphic video of how the car lose control, spun around, bang into a shophouse, burst into flame and how the girlfriend run straight into the fire.

[2:16 pm, 17/02/2021] +Thomas: Another point is the time to charge a car can be an hour to a few for full charge. Unless you can attain 10 or 15 minutes charge time, then is feasible for a charge at petrol kiosk

[2:18 pm, 17/02/2021] +Thomas: Our electricity grid may not be able to support sudden up swing of electrical load if high ev cars on the road

[2:25 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: can support, but need LEW to do some works

[2:26 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: it's about 5.5k per lot, excluding the LEW fee, change of lot size fee, application to relevant authorities etc

[2:27 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I think his point is about the time 

Ultimately if everyone drives an EV to charge at one same place, that place will become congested, and that's already a known problem in the e-mobility community long ago so some came up with solutions to divert EVs to other charging points and to work on software to optimise charging time based on traffic waiting for a charging lot

[2:27 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Yea, maybe just track the driver's phone, we can do that for 5 million people, can maybe do it for 200,000 cars....

[2:28 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Why track the driver's phone? It will cause another privacy uproar.

[2:29 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: next stop: government ask us go ev so they can track us

[2:29 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: confirm happen

[2:30 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Not necessarily. It's not going electric that allows them to track us, it's the implementation and introduction of the ERP 2.0 system which is the telematic system that will track you.

[2:30 pm, 17/02/2021] +Poh S. Lim: According to ST News report, the driver had already driven down that stretch of road thrice earlier but at a lower speed, and the accident occurred on the fourth time at the higher speed. That fact plus the fact that the driver’s fiancée was nearby indicates intent to speed, with reckless driving. It is like tempting fate. That four others were in the same car is tragic as five lives were lost immediately. The driver had obviously lost control sine the car was spinning 180 deg. It is sad and tragic has all were young men who had so much potential and so much to live and look forward to.

[2:30 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Lol I was joking when you said it would be hard to track the car.

[2:30 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I didn't say it was hard, I said it would be intensive 

Two different meanings altogether

[2:31 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Ok, when you said it would be intensive to track the car :)

[2:31 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Watch the video closely  .. the driver was avoiding a vehicle before it went out of control .  There could be a change of road condition that he didn’t anticipate

[2:32 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Basically if you come up with a joke without thinking it through, expect logical rebuttal so yeah 🤷‍♂️

[2:36 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Ok, I can play too. You said it would be intensive to track all the cars in Singapore. I joked that we already track 5 million mobile phones, so maybe just track the driver's phone instead of the car. It's not a very funny joke, so I get why you questioned it. 😆

[2:37 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I don't get your point of raising this anyway, seems like you're just trying to pick a fight when I have no hostile intentions and am merely stating my opinions based on what I know about the ITS industry sector

[2:37 pm, 17/02/2021] +REACH: First shipment of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine arrives in Singapore

The first shipment of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine arrived in Singapore on Wednesday afternoon (Feb 17).

It is another step forward in the Republic's bid to control the Covid-19 outbreak.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/first-shipment-of-modernas-covid-19-vaccine-arrives-in-singapore-on-feb-17

[2:39 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Way over my head, I must have missed a few messages. I too have no hostile intentions.

[2:42 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: There are many other tech out there which we can rely on that doesn't use satellites, potentially making it easier and faster 

V2G (Grid), V2I (Infra) and V2X (Everything) tech are such examples 

There also technologies like MQTT for communication so I thought leveraging all these rather than just falling back to satellite-based options would be worth thinking about

[2:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Valli: Going forward, likewise for mobile phones & computer cables & probably electronics, 

there should be a global understanding & implement a common charger, cable. 

This will cut down on electronic waste.

[2:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Totally understand your point about standardisation but call me a preacher if you will, I talked about how people come up with tons of standardisations in the name of standardisation to standardise other standardisations but in the end, there are more and more standards, how to standardise? Lol

[2:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Murphy Choy: Standards are just like guidelines. The companies exploit this to create customised solutions to make more money.

[2:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Murphy Choy: Well that happens when the standards are not integrated.

[2:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: https://www.charinev.org/about-us/vision-mission/

For EVs, here's CharIN which I mentioned, who are behind the CCS charging plug standard

[2:55 pm, 17/02/2021] +Valli: We should have a global controlling body similar to WHO for health, one controlling voice for Global Waste to make this  reality. 

For a better future Smart Techno World .

[2:58 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: I must say today's discussion was really fruitful even though it's not directly related to the actual topic of Budget 2021, but I hope there will be an ESC on environmental and sustainability issues soon and find the best solutions and alternatives

[3:10 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Question to ask - why a car accident can trigger such a big fire?

Is it a poor car design that trigger this?

BMW seems to have a higher chance of triggering a fire.

[3:18 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: It was reported widely in US and Europe of BMW caught fire after collisions .  Also there were questions why the rear wheels were  locked up which led the car to skid  .  

This one is multi-facet since the driver could be down to inexperience , vehicle mods which may led to the tragedy.   

Obviously , TP may not be a good place for test drive and they were instantly punished when a mishap occurred .

[3:20 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

The crash may injured the occupants.

The fire kill them.

[3:21 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Most likely especially at least one may not be belted up .

[3:31 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: Believe it was a two door car so rear passenger less chance of escape even if not belted up.

[3:31 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

The next question to ask is the car manufacturer liable - as car in a crash should not trigger a fire.

[3:33 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: New vehicle should be under warranty so manufacturer has to commend on probable cause.

[3:34 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

If a car in a crash trigger a fire - then it is design fault and car manufacturer will have breach car safety.

[3:35 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

That's it is design not fit for purpose and safety.

[3:36 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Someone has to start the ball rolling .   

The convenient way is for the car company to push the responsibility to the driver and expert opinions may swing to BMW favour in this case   . 

Hence it is always good objective to suspect the car mechanisms first before investigating the driver .

[3:38 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

The driver is responsible for speeding, but if the car is known to crash and can trigger a fire at a high speed crash - then I think car manufacturer is equally liable to design a car that breach safety.

Else they will have to limit the maximum speed.

[3:38 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes .. in US and Europe , people always question the car first not the human especially fires etc . Eg. Honda and Toyota was found guilty covering up mechanical and safety issues in the 90s.  People has to question the machine

[3:39 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes .  M4 is a gentleman’s toy . It supposed to keep the driver safe after collision .

[3:39 pm, 17/02/2021] +YT: What a mess. So much resources expended just because some people didn't use their brains and decided to do a street race. Fire fihhters, police, paramedics, doctors, insurance, etc., so, why are people still saying this is a tragic event? It was preventable and avoidable. Hope people will get this straight.

[3:40 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: Social media picked up that the driver might not have a driving licence.  If so, is it a perquisite to buy a car in Singapore at the show room?

[3:40 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

LTA may need to consider studying the safety of imported cars that can trigger fire upon impact.

This will make car manufacturer accountable in car safety.

[3:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes . LTA  got to get behind this fault and understand it . If this car caught fire  at TP,  it may just blew up on any expressway too.

[3:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: The driver has a license and he has been driving overseas too.

[3:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Just made it compulsory to test drive car before buy. Test drive needs to produce driving licence.

[3:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Isn’t this a existing rule ? We have to produce license when test driving ?

[3:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: All two doors cars that got back seats need a equipment behind to break the glass to get out in emergency.

[3:50 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Many ppl buy without test drive as sometimes queue too long.

[3:50 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: It was a second hand car if I recall correctly from another report...

[3:50 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Yes and we not sure how many modifications were done to the car.

[3:52 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yes . What was the quality of the car ?  How come it was sold to the driver lower than expected sum ?  Many questions still unanswered .

[3:53 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: I think in this case , the driver has not trial the car detailed enuf before it put on a test .

[3:54 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Yes I believed so

[3:56 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: that's a question for the inquiry, the information isn't publicly available. but i don't think the pricing is that far off.

[4:03 pm, 17/02/2021] +Leonard Lau: Yup .. let’s await the report .

[4:17 pm, 17/02/2021] +REACH: 11 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore, including 1 in community

There were 11 new coronavirus cases confirmed as at Wednesday noon (Feb 17), taking Singapore's total to 59,821.

They included one community case, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). There were none from migrant workers' dormitories.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/11-new-covid-19-cases-in-singapore-10-imported-1-in-the-community

[4:55 pm, 17/02/2021] +REACH: COE prices end lower at latest tender

Certificate of entitlement (COE) prices fell across the board at the end of the latest bidding exercise on Wednesday (Feb 17), continuing a mostly downward trend from the previous tender.

The premium for commercial vehicles fell by the largest margin, about 10 per cent, after hitting a three-year peak two weeks ago.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/coe-prices-end-lower-at-latest-tender*

[5:04 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Link not working

[5:05 pm, 17/02/2021] +Linda: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/coe-prices-end-lower-at-latest-tender

[5:06 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Thanks

[5:07 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Didn't work cuz of the asterisk which they wanted to use to bold the text

[5:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +XaniceAfcai: Did u report to oneservice app and call neighbourhood police?

I did when I encounter this at wee hrs. These not only create noise pollution, endanger life and public nuisance.

[5:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: The root cause is the workshop target them

[5:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Heavy fine force closure

[5:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Is a open secret which are some of these so call workshop that dealt with these rice boi mordifications

[6:15 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/mysterious-bmw-fires-continue-calls-investigation-grow/story?id=60843215

[6:16 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/8544496/bmw-fire-coolant-warning-letter/

[6:17 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5049045/BMW-recalls-one-million-luxury-cars-fire-fears.html

[6:19 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I think the tanjong pagar BMW - fire on impact deserves a review on car safety especially if it could trigger a fire upon impact.

[6:27 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ken: Quite a lot recently 😅

[6:28 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: have to see where the fire started if engine is usually short circuit

[6:28 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: if fuel tank there are proven science that it does not explode easily on impact

[6:29 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: anyway lets not take the focus away where the cause is speeding not the fire

[6:29 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: so what shoudl be done to better curb speeding on rd by all forms of vehicals

[6:31 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: in fact TP and regulators should do more to show to the society that THEY DO NOT GIVE IN TO expensive cars (urban legend is tp dare not find fault with luxury cars continental espically

[6:31 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: thus we see more rice boys in VW / Beemers / merc dress as amg class

[6:33 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: Since when does TP give face to luxury cars?? In fact it's the contrary, they pay closer attention to these cars which can run!

[6:34 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: This is my personal and humble opinion ah

[6:35 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: Most people, staff, residents, workers, most of them like to wait till something happen before somebody starts investigation and rectifying that fault

[6:35 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: I heard that area is particularly famous (heard ah, could be fake news) for having cars zooming down the street

[6:36 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: go see the mod compare to normal cars den u know ...

[6:37 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: maybe the work on the concept innocent till guilty ?

[6:38 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: hahahaha

[6:38 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: proven guilty ?

[6:38 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: This mindset is wrong to begin with

[6:38 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: Thats why police and mrt always announce, see anything or anyone suspicious, call 999

[6:38 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: So should be guilty until proven innocent?

[6:39 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: Dont wait till bomb explode then say: oh ya, this weird guy always loiter there, oh ya, i saw the bag with wire sticking out, etc

[6:40 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: My choice of words might be wrong ah, but theres no foresight

[6:42 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: please lah read what the ground says is not as if these comments are based on hear says

[6:42 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: that area how many feedback had been put in

[6:42 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: if action is take will such happen ?

[6:42 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: there is no smoke without fire

[6:42 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: sometimes certan things in society have to give some attention else it will spread like cancer den something major will happen

[6:42 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: is a good reminder to those in public services why must be so defensive

[6:43 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. LTA may want to consider 2 classification of speeding.

- speed exceed 20 kmph above speed limit - consider speeding and should be impose with current penalties and fine.

- 2nd category - any speed limit exceeding 50kmph or involve in car racing with other cars or with modified cars - should be categorised as "car racing".

Penalties should include "mandatory jail sentence" plus hefty fines and banned from driving for at least 5 years.

This will provide sufficient deterrence.

[6:44 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: should not it be innocent till proven guilty? i thought is always that case?

[6:44 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Penalties should include "mandatory jail sentence" plus hefty fines and banned from driving for at least 5 years. ->>> thsi one good plus canning if possible

[6:45 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: but i think there was a case involving 2 cars before i forget the sentence is at lim chu kang

[6:45 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Caning too serious - only for violent criminals.

[6:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: Yes it is. It's always innocent until proven guilty. But to say that this mindset is wrong to begin with..... I don't know, maybe I misunderstood the message

[6:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: workshop that do illegal mod should be fine also

[6:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: that will deter the source to mod

[6:47 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

How does the car pass the inspection test if car modified.

[6:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: and those wanna be workshop who thing they know what they are doing but endangering the lives of others

[6:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: Speeding above a certain limit already attracts mandatory DQ. Can't remember for how long

[6:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: open secret ->

[6:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Berny: Remove mod, put stock parts, go test, pass, put back mod

[6:47 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

LTA let it pass?

Cannot be.

[6:47 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: before inspection go back same workshop tear out all mod make it as original as possible

[6:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: inspection pass put all back

[6:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: and the workshop sometimes provide a package

[6:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: including SURE pass situation ..

[6:51 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Time for LTA to raid all these workshops that do illegal modification.

[6:51 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: it had been there for years

[6:52 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: raid den will go under sea den after x period will surface again

[6:53 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: bottom line which i hope we all dun forget

[6:53 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: speeding is wrong espically in Singapore our road are so congest and small

[6:54 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: drink driving shoudl be maid a canning crime

[6:54 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: made sorry hahaha

[6:55 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: by doing this are we limiting the passion of motor sports

[6:55 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: no .. u wanna speed and have fun go sepang or gudang up north and do up the car properly

[6:56 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: those are control environment where damaged can be controlled

[6:59 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Maybe swap a Golf Course for a Race Track, takes up less space and can charge the same amount!

[7:00 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: hahahahah wait long long

[7:01 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: wait they tell u have mah road safety park hahahah

[7:09 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: 2nd category attractive

[7:10 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: Definitely

[7:11 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: Add retake highway code and driving lessons.

[7:12 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Car racing is a menace and a nuisance in our road.

It serve no purpose except cheap thrill - but threaten the safety of the population on the road.

Law must catch up to stamp the disapproval.

If people like car racing - join formula one.

If not don't do it on our road.

[7:12 pm, 17/02/2021] +Alvin: I rarely agree with you but this I totally doubly second your idea

[7:17 pm, 17/02/2021] +Caleb: 👍

[7:19 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: Totally agree

[7:24 pm, 17/02/2021] +REACH: $870m aviation support package to pay up to 50% of wages from April to September: MOT https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/870m-aviation-support-package-to-pay-up-to-50-of-wages-from-april-to-september-mot?&utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=addtoany

[7:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: more than 40 km/h, offenders will already be prosecuted in court and subject to a jail term of up to 10 years.

[7:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/RTA1961?ProvIds=P1IV

[7:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: LTA is a very messed up statuary board... our govt should looks at how other first world countries manage their land transport

[7:50 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: I’m saying they are messed up due to the previous bike sharing and MRT issues....

[7:50 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Hahaha you and I need to have a cuppa and rant face to face

[7:51 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: LTA still have hardworking officers la

[7:51 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: But IMO they are the worst SB in SG

[7:52 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: looks at so many POH that took over transport portfolio and left the politics 😂

[7:53 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Simi is POH ah?

[7:54 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: Political Office Holder

[7:55 pm, 17/02/2021] +Nat: Hahaha not say they no substance or what lah but have to press on if they kena arrow to be Tpt Minister

[8:00 pm, 17/02/2021] +Rama: On par with!?

[8:09 pm, 17/02/2021] +Desmond Koh: Hong Kong, Taipei and Tokyo 😬

[8:19 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

For car racing, propose "1 strike you are out".

2 strike is not a deterrence.

[8:31 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Classifying a separate category call "car racing" as an offence - denotes disapproval of car racing on our road.

[8:32 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Which should be separated from "speeding".

[8:32 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: speeding or racing is just a thin line

[8:33 pm, 17/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: if i need to race i need to step on the gas usually

[8:34 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Speeding could be due to rushing for time.

2. Car racing is a deliberate car race for cheap thrill.

[8:34 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: whether it's "racing" or "speeding" is about the objective in flooring the accelerator. you can be a speedster without racing because there's no "competitor", likewise you can be racing but when you're in a chui car, you might max out at 120.

[8:34 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Speeding don't modify engine.

2. Car racers do.

[8:35 pm, 17/02/2021] +CQ: unless the message to be sent is "i don't care what's the reason. if you cross into a certain speed, you hit this penalty."

[8:37 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Speeding - agree with current penalties - where repeat offenders can be jailed.

2. Car racing - is for cheap thrills and car competition.

[8:38 pm, 17/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Speeding - 2 chances.

2. Car racing - 1 strike you are out.

[8:45 pm, 17/02/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors!

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Megan

[8:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Alvin: I somewhat agree with Danny. Need to split category. If the person caught racing says he’s just speeding then check his car for mods immediately. If got mods you will get penalized simple as that.

[8:46 pm, 17/02/2021] +Alvin: Gdnite Megan

[8:48 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: In the UK there is careless driving, fine and points; then  there is reckless driving which is a ban, and jail if there is accident.

[8:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Good night Megan

[8:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Anyone dies and manslaughter charges will be added.

[8:49 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: I think we need time to pause and reflect in light of this human tragedy, but clearly a change is needed to stop it again.

[8:50 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: As much for the protection of young people who get drawn into this behaviour, as well as bystanders who are at risk too.

[8:51 pm, 17/02/2021] +Ben: Good night!

[9:01 pm, 17/02/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

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

Goodnight!

Megan

======

REACH 193 - How you benefit from covid Budget so far (SK)

16 Feb 2021 (11am - 7pm)

REACH

[9:16 am, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Watch Budget 2021 live from 3pm: 6 things to look out

This year's Budget will be unveiled on Tuesday (Feb 16) as Singapore continues to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-budget-2021-6-things-to-look-out-for-on-feb-16

[11:27 am, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021 to focus on strengthening social compact, innovation and sustainability: DPM Heng 

This means finding new ways to innovate and transform the economy, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in a Facebook post on Monday (Feb 15) ahead of his Budget statement on Tuesday.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/emerging-stronger-together-budget-to-focus-on-strengthening-social-compact

[11:35 am, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 11.30am to 9pm 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 😊

[11:36 am, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget measures to combat Covid-19 last year helped cushion the recession, saved or created some 155,000 jobs over 2020 and 2021, and shaved the rise in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. 

The Government set aside almost $100 billion to cope with the pandemic, with most of the funds used to support businesses and help workers keep their jobs. 

📢 Topic 📢 

💬 How have you benefitted from the Budget measures so far? 

👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-budget-2021-6-things-to-look-out-for-on-feb-16

👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/covid-19-budget-measures-helped-cushion-recessions-impact-save-jobs-finance

----

[11:39 am, 16/02/2021] +NATs: How have we benefitted is one thing, how we'll be expected to give back is another, more interesting point

[11:46 am, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: 🤔

[11:52 am, 16/02/2021] +Timothy Low: Did the rich get richer and the poor get poorer during COVID?

[11:57 am, 16/02/2021] +Ben: People want a safe place to put their money. People with money spend less during a pandemic. People invest more in their home, since they work there now!

[11:58 am, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Good one! Many forget u take u need to give back . There is nothing in this world is really free except for the air u breathe for now

[11:59 am, 16/02/2021] +Ben: It'll take a lot to pay back $60+bn, if we usually have a surplus of $2-5bn

[11:59 am, 16/02/2021] +Berny: Air we breathe in isn't exactly free, they comes from the trees, plants and others that are still alive

[0:00 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Thus how much more the people want to dig. Chinese saying Gold hill dig dig will be come no hill and flat land

[0:02 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: This recent time a couple of our source incomes had been choke. We have to be far sighted

[0:03 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: At least sg is good many still have jobs, have jobs means a good percentage still can have the spending power to drive the society....

[0:04 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: So the last budget was crafted well to support the line of defense for society thus am not expecting the same for this afternoon maybe got angbao still but much smaller scale.

[0:05 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: Angbao will come with conditions i am expecting

[0:06 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Must else the money will be misuse

[0:06 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Already the safety net put out had been misused by public and corp

[0:07 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: This marred the good intent planned

[0:07 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: It has happened in the past!

[0:08 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Happy budget listening hopefully the knife is kinder on us this weak financial year

[0:08 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: 🤣😅😂

[0:54 pm, 16/02/2021] +Sam: We know that there is only so much we can get from our people, even a 2% increase generates so much kpkb. I guess we got to squeeze from the super rich. Bring in more multi billionaire to set up family offices maybe one of the solutions. They will also buy expensive house means more tax.

[1:34 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

The successive covid Budgets come at the right time last year.

Everyone in Singapore receive something from the covid budgets - and the Budgets help us one way or another.

The following are some people that I know and feedback that I collected from the ground who benefitted from the various covid Budgets :-

1. Tourism sector is the hardest hit - whereby many people are released. I know of someone who have to jump from short-term jobs to jobs to keep afloat. The Budget helps to provide short-term financial assistance to these tourism people in between jobs to tie over - while trying to secure jobs.

Finally the tourism voucher helps, as some tourism sector re-engage their previous staff who have been retrenched to rejoin the companies to service the "revitalise" tourism sector.

2. Aviation sector is another hardest hit sector - where many people in these sectors are let go and others who stay behind have to take hefty pay cut.

The Budget provide financial assistance to Companies in the aviation sector to keep afloat and to transform their business.

As a result, aviation MRO transform to convert passenger airfreight to cargo air frieght - and this help to keep the airlines afloat, as well as keep engineering and technical service staff afloat.

Also Companies transform their operation by pooling the various separate Business Units engineering division into a Central Engineering Division (specialist unit) - that not only service aviation sector, but also other transport sectors --- hence securing jobs not only for aviation sector, but also enabling sector that are hit by the pandemic with redundant engineering staff to service sectors that are in high demand and badly required the service of engineering expertise.

3. Covid Budget emphasize Innovation and provide fund to spur R&D. As a result,

- Banks have been actively train existing and new staff to be train and exploit R&D in "digital banking" and "mobile apps service". This has help to transform bank staff skillsets to embrace "digitalisation" in banking as well as transform traditional banking functions to digitalisation.

- More Companies - public and private companies have been providing Scholarship for R&D to spur innovation within their Enterprise - that will strengthen our competitiveness - as it will help to transform business as well as transform staff skillsets.

4. Budgets to co-fund interships with Companies - has helped many fresh graduates to gain employment upon leaving Universities and Polytechnics. This temporary measures has helped to provide jobs to fresh graduates upon graduation and provide them income - while the Economy tie over the pandemic.

Hopefully, when the pandemic is over soon, more permanent jobs that are relevant to their training in Universities and Polytechnics - can be secured for them.

Helps will be required by the Government in tandem with Union and Enterprises to make this work.

5. Everyone in Singapore have received some cash benefits from the covid Budget to alleviate our day to day living expenses - as many of us are somewhat impacted by the lockdown and restriction impose to combat the pandemic. It comes as a relief - and many thanks to the Budgets.

6. Lastly free vaccination, if dispense to all population in Singapore will greatly help to curb and end the pandemic.

[1:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: Luxury tax!?

[1:41 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: As compare to many countries our tax consider relatively low, below 30k almost no income tax. 

Is a balancing game for government to meet the needs of people, without heavily taxing. 

If complete with diploma most of us earn and live quite well. As compared, we get to travel overseas, buy iPhone and make choices in life.

[1:42 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: The billionaire that came to Singapore mainly also due to tax being very low

[1:43 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: This i don't expect to change.

[1:46 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: we welcome billionaires to come to sg

[1:46 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: they will spend and it will help our economy

[1:47 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Yah part of the reason why we have so low tax.. see they buy house like no need money like that 😱

[1:48 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: i think the founder of Dyson bought and sold his property at a lost

[1:48 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: but we still benefit cos of the taxes and property agent etc

[1:48 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. However with the Economy set to recover, as we vaccinate and more sectors are progressively doing well - the coming Budget should be more targeted - and this seems to be direction the Government is taking. This will help to ensure fiscal prudence.

2. It is important we should refrain from digging into the reserve again - as far as possible - as we need to keep our reserve intact so that it will help us to earn and accumulate more passive income from our shrewd and careful investment from our Sovereign Fund. 

By digging into our reserves to fund recurrent government spending will hurt our Sovereign Fund capabilities to generate and create more wealth for us.

3. Notice that Temasek Holdings and GIC have been very proactive to expand investment in many strategic assets - while the World market is in a limbo state due to the pandemic - it help us to accumulate very strong strategic assets with good earning potential - will help us to generate more incomes in the near and distant future.

4. The recent buoyant financial market could be a good news for us. Our Sovereign Funds could have earn good income for us - and provide us strong earning in NIRC (Net Income Return Contribution) - that can help us to fund this year Government Spendings - to cushion the lesser tax collected by us - due to the pandemic.

5. If we are still short fall in Government Revenue to cover our Government Spendings this year - we may want to consider issuing Govenment Bonds to finance long-term projects (such as those Climate Sustainability projects, or our train projects etc) ---- as interest  rate is near zero now.

We should not be digging into our reserves from Sovereign Funds - as we are earning good income from our Capital in Sovereign Funds. Else we will deplete our Capitals in the Sovereign Funds and lose our earnings from the Funds ---- while we pay almost zero interest from borrowing to issuing Bonds.

[1:49 pm, 16/02/2021] +Sam: I think he paid a lot of taxes. Stamp duty, ABSD, seller stamp duty, property tax etc

[1:50 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Anyone here participated in the budget talk?

[1:50 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: I apply got in and didn’t able to make it due to work haiz

[1:51 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: I don't feel like joining ESC anymore lol I ESCape from ESC but they have one session this Friday, 19 Feb

[1:52 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

So many participants in the live talk, very hard to get your feedback across.

WhatsApp platform better, can elaborate.

[1:52 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: Yes

[1:53 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Have you joined one?

[1:53 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: Point 5 for me.

[1:54 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Also zoom resolution seems quite bad.

Alot of latency and jitter.

Either the image freeze or audio cannot deliver properly.

4G still not good enough - maybe 5G better.

[1:54 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Nope.

[1:56 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Then you don't know how it's like 

Even though I only joined the inaugural session, I found it insightful to hear from others 

The facilitator of my group was great too, it was overall a great experience

[1:57 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Ok.

But not for me as per now.

[1:58 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: I would've loved to join one MOE one which I was invited to but like Ken, schedule didn't accommodate otherwise I had lots to talk about studying as a part-time student

[2:00 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心:

Feedbacks received from people on the ground concerning Vaccination against covid

1. Through conversation with quite a number of people, notice that many people is convinced to take their vaccination when their turns come.

2. But quite a sizeable of minority are not supportive of vaccination :-

a. A group is fearful of vaccination :-

- some a elderly who feel that they are weak and on long-term medication - they are afraid that their body cannot take it or they may experience some side effects that trigger their fear.

- news about Norway where some nursing home elderly pass away - even though it is proven that their demise are not related to the vaccination. But this fear strike home.

- some younger or mature people are sceptical about what the vaccines will bring in terms of adverse effects in the short term, medium term and long term

- yet some prefer to wait and see how the rest of the people who are vaccinate react to the vaccines before they decide to vaccinate.

- some are hardcore group that don't believe in vaccination - no matter what.

b. Some groups cannot be vaccinated :-

- Those who react adversely to the vaccines (eg. allergy trigger by PEG of the mRNA vaccines)

- Young children 16 years and below.

- Pregnant women and breast-feeding.

3. Pondering the big numbers and letting it go, it becoming disturbing and worrying - as it will still pose a pubic health problem - if Sngapore fail to address the vaccination for the unvaccinated group.

---------

[2:00 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Consequences of sizeable minority not taking vaccination

1. To achieve herd immunity against original covid (less contagious) - 80% of the resident population need to be vaccinated.

- This mean 4.48 million of population need to be vaccinated.

- 1.12 million people will not be vaccinated.

2. To achieve herd immunity against more contagious mutant covid strains (like UK B117 strain, SAfrica strain, Brazil strains) - 90% of the resident population need to be vaccinated.

- This mean 5.04 million of population need to be vaccinated.

- 560,000 people will not be vaccinated.

3. Those people unvaccinated form a large group to be secured and protected against infection - when we open up our Economy to the World - when the vaccination exercise is over ---- a very large surface area to secure.

4. The large unvaccinated group, a large surface area to secure ---- will have put tremendous stress on our hospital facilites, strike fear among the Community and impact Economic recovery and opening up of the borders - if infection spread among the unvaccinated.

5. Thus this is no longer an issue of allowing a large group of people who are fearful or those who refuse to get vaccination - to roam freely.

6. Because if the World pandemic is not over and the covid totally defeated and demise, there is a possiblity that those unvaccinated may get infected - and spread among those unvaccinated in the Community.

7. Thus, the issue now become a matter of not adopting a lay-back reactive approach to let the population decide on their own vaccination (though I am not suggesting the government is operating in this mode) - especially those who are not willing to get themselves vaccinated.

8. A more systematic approach to coax, convince and get the unvaccinated group - to get vaccinated may become necessary.

----

[2:00 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Approach to coax and secure vaccination for unvaccinated group

1. Onion analogy

- To get to the core of the onion, there is a need to peel "layer by layer" until all the outer layers are peel off - we can finally see the "core".

- Likewise, to convince those unvaccinated groups to get vaccinated - we need to adopt the "onion approach" ---- peeling their resistance "layer by layer" to get to the core - and finally relent and agree.

2. Layer-by-layer approach

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

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

- Other family members try to convince those who are fearful of vaccination.

- Send Government officers, health officers or experience volunteers to coax and convince elderly, as well as others who are unwilling to vaccinate to get vaccinated.

- Get the rest of the family members vaccinated - and when they see there are no harm or danger cause by the vaccines - it may finally convince them to vaccinate.

3. Prod and find the "right key" to open the "hard" "heart" "lock"

- Visit and re-visit for those hardcore unvaccinated group - by trying to find the "right key" to open their heart and finally relent.

- Remember, even with one unvaccinated - it will still pose a risk to the Community for the virus to latch on - and re-infect the Community.

- It is thus important to discover their "fear", "pain points" or "what really concern them about the vaccination" - and address them "head-on" to get the unvaccinated groups sign on for the vaccination.

4. Learn from other Countries who are speeding and forging ahead and reaching herd immunity - how they convince their "anti-vaxx" group to vaccinate :-

- Countries like Israel has completed vaccinating about 60% of their population - and now finding more challenging to get into the last 40% who are providing resistance to the vaccination.

- We can learn from Israel how they achieve "herd immunity" by persuading and convincing the last 40% to vaccinate.

- The Israel approach in breaking down hardcore "anti-vaccination" group - can be our case studies - that we can adopt and apply it for our needs.

- Likewise, UK and US (coming up) ---- are also forging ahead in their vaccination --- and similarly we can learn from them --- how they approach the "anti-vaxx" hardcore to get them vaccinated.

5. Exploring alternatives for those groups that cannot be vaccinated.

- For those who are fearful of needle vaccination, may want to consider the oral vaccines currently under trial - and if successful use it as part of our vaccination programme.

Eg. Vaxart oral COVID-19 tablet vaccine

https://www.contagionlive.com/view/vaxart-has-developed-the-first-oral-investigational-covid-19-vaccine

- For the group that are Anaphylaxis - allergy to mRNA vaccine using PEG coating - use 

other type of non-mRNA vaccines eg. inactivated virus vaccine, viral vector vaccines, protein sub-unit vaccine.

- For the children below 16 years old - use vaccines that are successful after trial for children (eg. Sinopharm is safe and effective for children between 3 years to 17 years, Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna - on trial for children below 16 years and 18 years old respectively).

- For pregnant women and breast-feeding - Israel and US have vaccinated against pregnant women successfully (but should also weigh ---- should vaccination be done on pregnant women --- or wait for 9 months after delivery then vaccinate.

As for women doing breast-feeding, can vaccinate but refrain from breast-feeding for 7 days will suffice.

6. I thus suggest the Government to give due consideration to this vaccination strategy for the unvaccinated group among our population ---- so that we can restart our Economy, open up our borders and attract business, tourists and business travellers safely.

================

[2:02 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: Most of my peers that I asked in the 30s are not going to take.

[2:02 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I know, that's why I write.

[2:05 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

The government may have to consider using the techniques used in smallpox vaccination, BCG vaccination, Help B vaccination etc - to convince people to vaccinate.

We must not fail in our covid-19 vaccination efforts.

[2:15 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Govt have to understand, the fear is from global news where they had been too many of such cases being open in the social media.

[2:15 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: to say those are not factual then why are the manufacturers not coming out to clear up the air. live only 1... injection is 2x anything can happen ... is not about being compensated or not. Free inoculation for the better who do not want ya?

[2:15 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: this is unlike flu / bcg / chiken pox vaccine

[2:15 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: thus this portion it sure takes more than word of mouth to convince

[2:17 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: https://youtu.be/Sp0g40-pjk0

The sound is getting from bad to worst.

[2:18 pm, 16/02/2021] +Stella Yip: Hmm... There are people around me from young to old (above 80) eager to have the vaccination but not yet receive letter. So perhaps should let those who are eager to have it first.

[2:20 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: Can register ur interest. https://www.vaccine.gov.sg/

[2:20 pm, 16/02/2021] +Thomas: For me, I will take the vaccination to protect my love ones

[2:20 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: ?

[2:20 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: Cracking sound

[2:21 pm, 16/02/2021] +Stella Yip: Great, thanks!

[2:24 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: So early for what 

Of course early people testing ma

[2:25 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: This one is live parliament la. Not budget

[2:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Orh chey maybe they eating crackers like that Onion News Network video la 😂

[2:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: got pros and cons for early vaccine

[2:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: like for frotn liners in essential industry - i give them the support to do it

[2:27 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: on a safer aspect is there some test that can be done to eliminate complications thus instilling further confidence in people

[2:27 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: also with at least 4-5 manufactures in the market now each claiming to be the best but with one having more adverse effects which one den is really beneficial ?

[2:54 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Holding WEF meeting in Singapore will send 'strong signal of confidence' in country's ability: Alvin Tan 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Annual Meeting being held here will send a "strong signal of confidence" in Singapore’s ability to host major international events in a "safe and innovative way", Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan said in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 16). 

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/holding-wef-meeting-in-singapore-will-send-strong-signal-of-14207944

[3:02 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F161wh6rJaE

[3:21 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021: Govt extends Jobs Support Scheme by up to 6 months; sectors to get 10-30% tiered wage subsidies

Wage subsidies under the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) will be extended by up to a further six months to help businesses that remain badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic to retain workers, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Tuesday (Feb 16).

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-govt-extends-jobs-support-scheme-by-up-to-6-months-sectors-to-get-10-30-tiered

 

[3:29 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Great to see Industry Transformation Maps are going strong - and shaping how each industry sectors as well as our workers evolve, transform and growing stronger and more relevant to the Industrialisation 4.0 and future.

[3:30 pm, 16/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: I registered. Thanks.

[3:39 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: tim ho wan is singapore brand?

[3:42 pm, 16/02/2021] +Wilson Leong: Bring in by singaporean

[3:43 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: Thanks

[3:43 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: the video by CNA is echoing..

[3:45 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021

Additional $870m to help battered aviation sector : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-additional-870mto-help-battered-aviation-sector-more-aid-for-land-transport

55,000 people have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-55000-have-received-both-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine

$11b to support three-pronged approach to help Singapore bounce back from Covid-19 : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-11b-to-support-three-pronged-approach-to-help-singapore-bounce-back-from-covid

[3:54 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021 

▶️ Tim Ho Wan saves three to five man-hours daily thanks to automation process: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-tim-ho-wan-saves-three-to-five-man-hours-daily-thanks-to-automation-process

▶️ Local companies can access co-funding schemes to transform, digitalise : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-tim-ho-wan-saves-three-to-five-man-hours-daily-thanks-to-automation-process

[3:59 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021

▶️ Father of two took up traineeship to develop skills in deep-tech sector : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-father-of-two-took-up-traineeship-to-develop-skills-in-deep-tech-sector

▶️ Scheme in offing to transform construction, real estate value chain : https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/budget-2021-scheme-in-offing-to-transform-construction-real-estate-value-chain

[4:09 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: S Pass quota for foreign workers in manufacturing to be cut to 15% by 2023 

From Jan 1 next year, firms in the manufacturing sector can only have up to 18 per cent of their workforce be foreign workers on S Passes.

This quota will be further cut to 15 per cent from Jan 1, 2023.

The overall quota - comprising workers on work permits and S Passes - for manufacturing will remain at 60 per cent.

More : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-s-pass-quota-for-foreign-workers-in-manufacturing-to-be-cut-to-15-by-2023

[4:17 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021 

▶️ Singapore households to receive $900m financial support package, including $100 CDC vouchers: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-singapore-households-to-receive-900m-financial-support-package-including-100

▶️ Govt aspires for every sector of economy to have 'some form of progressive wages':  https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/budget-2021-govt-aspires-for-every-sector-of-economy-to-have-some-form-of

▶️ Target to support hiring of 200,000 locals this year under SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-target-to-support-hiring-of-200000-locals-this-year-under-sgunited-jobs-and

▶️ 14,000 low-income families to benefit from ComLink over next two years : https://www.st…

[4:34 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: Likewise

[4:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021 

▶️ 14,000 low-income families to benefit from ComLink over next two years : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-14000-low-income-families-to-benefit-from-comlink-over-next-two-years

▶️ Healthcare workers to get pay rise for exemplary commitment : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-healthcare-workers-to-get-pay-rise-for-their-exemplary-commitment

▶️ $20m fund to match ComChest donations raised through spontaneous acts of giving : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-20-million-fund-to-match-comchest-donations-raised-through-spontaneous-acts-of 

▶️ New $60m agri-food cluster transformation fund to boost local production through technology : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-20-milli…

[4:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: Green bonds I like that

[4:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Can buy arh?

[4:38 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: The agri food link is wrong

[4:38 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-new-60m-agri-food-cluster-transformation-fund-to-boost-local-production

[4:39 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Climate bonds is an interesting subject, I attended a webinar by Climate Bonds International before

[4:40 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: Not specifically stated but my guess is a small portion of the tranche will be sold in retail market

[4:40 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: Just like Temasek Bonds like that

[4:40 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: It is indeed interesting

[4:43 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: $250k how many people have 🙄

[4:44 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: There's also potentially more talk about ESG stocks too

[4:44 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: hmmm

[4:45 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: Sg will be the first country to totally fund for own green industry internally

[4:51 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021

▶️ Govt to issue some $19b of green bonds on select public infrastructure projects : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-govt-to-issue-some-19b-of-green-bonds-on-select-public-infrastructure-projects

▶️ Some govt agencies to make early switch to chillers using refrigerants with low-global warming potential : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-some-govt-agencies-to-make-early-switch-to-chillers-using-refrigerants-with

▶️ Singapore to dip into reserves for second year to fund $11 billion Covid-19 package : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-singapore-to-dip-into-reserves-for-second-year-to-fund-11-billion-covid-19

▶️ Petrol duties raised with immediate effect, road tax rebates to help offset increa…

[4:59 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: Wonderful

[5:01 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021 

▶️ GST hike to take place between 2022 and 2025, 'sooner rather than later', says DPM Heng : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-gst-hike-to-take-place-between-2022-and-2025-sooner-rather-than-later-says-dpm

▶️ S'pore to impose GST on goods bought online imported by air or post : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-spore-to-impose-gst-on-goods-bought-online-imported-by-air-or-post

[5:03 pm, 16/02/2021] +Dong Liang: Luckily it is with immediate effect. If it starts tommorrow, all will queue up at petrol station tonight.

[5:05 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: For electromobility, I sure hope gahmen knows how to plan it out well and know when to start reducing incentives and so on 

Basically we need a thorough review of the entire e-mobility ambition and not just blindly follow the world as I've preached before

[5:07 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Budget 2021 

▶️ Singapore may need to dip further into reserves to invest in future economy : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-singapore-may-need-to-dip-further-into-reserves-to-invest-in-future-economy

▶️ Expected deficit of $11b in 2021 with continued efforts to tide Singapore over Covid-19 crisis : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-expected-deficit-of-11b-in-2021-with-continued-efforts-to-tide-singapore-over

▶️ Govt to issue up to $90b in new bonds to finance infrastructure like MRT lines and tidal walls :  https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/budget-2021-govt-to-issue-up-to-90b-in-new-bonds-to-finance-infrastructure-like

[5:09 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Eh tbh hor I don't mind our MRT line expansion slowing down or even stopping 

Channel those funds to O&M better

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: what is o&M?

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Lol was about to ask

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Operation & Maintenance

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: If not everyday I receive complaints

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: thought now improve liao

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Oh... lol problem left by Mdm Saw

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: I came I saw I left lmaooo

[5:10 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: with the new buses, now not so jerky liao

[5:11 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Improve?? No la broken cables called improve??

[5:11 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Jerky as in?

[5:12 pm, 16/02/2021] +CQ: wah kns... petrol duties increased!

[5:13 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Give you one year to convert lol

[5:13 pm, 16/02/2021] +Suma Pamu: Surprised 

No news related to Property😉

[5:13 pm, 16/02/2021] +Eunice Chia: Motorcyclists will be given a 60 per cent road tax rebate for a year, and up to $80 of additional petrol duty rebate, depending on the engine capacity.

Taxi and private hire drivers will be given a 15 per cent road tax rebate for a year, and $360 of additional petrol duty rebate over four months.

Goods vehicles and buses will be given a 100 per cent tax rebate for a year, while cars using petrol will be given a one-year tax rebate of 15 per cent.

All road tax changes will be applicable for a one-year period from Aug 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022.

[5:14 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: 😂🤣😅

[5:15 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: some drivers like stop and go, cause many people to have motion sickness

[5:15 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

A bit disappointed that we still have to dig into reserves, but luckily a small one $1.7 billion from a total of $52 billion to $53.7 billion.

[5:16 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: 👍

[5:17 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Govt will review carbon tax rate, which will remain at $5 per tonne until 2023 

The trajectory and level of the carbon tax after 2023 will be reviewed by the Government in consultation with industry and expert groups, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Tuesday (Feb 16).

Details of the review will be announced during next year's Budget (2022) to give time for businesses to adjust to any revisions, he said. But, for now, the carbon tax level will be maintained at $5 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions, as previously announced, said Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister.

More : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-government-will-review-carbon-tax-rate-which-will-remain-at-5-per-tonne-until

[5:18 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: https://mothership.sg/2021/02/online-shopping-gst-from-1-jan-2023/

My taobao going to be tax 🥲🥲

[5:18 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Fortunately, the budget deficit of $11 billion deficit is smaller than thought.

When our economy recovers, I think we can achieve a balance budget.

[5:19 pm, 16/02/2021] +CQ: oh no......... no more cheap korean skincare.........

[5:19 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: What does this have to do with rail O&M?

[5:20 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: taobao become taxbao 😅

[5:20 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: Yes, agreed.

[5:21 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: This is fair and good for our local retailers

[5:21 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Lol... but even with the tax local retailers are still selling much much more

[5:21 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: So a bit hard

[5:21 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Local have so much cost

[5:22 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Governing just try to recover some money only

[5:22 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: That's true, so who suffer? Lol

[5:22 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: We need a level playing field and while I don't want to pay more,  I am OK with paying what's fair.

[5:22 pm, 16/02/2021] +CQ: i'm pretty sure the taxes collected are not going to the brick-and-mortar retailers.....

[5:22 pm, 16/02/2021] +Eunice Chia: agree.  for our local retailers.

[5:23 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: Err down the road we suffer lor... cause no local shop will survive in the long run

[5:24 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: But we have to think on the long run, we also can earn from overseas just how we need to learn to innovate lor.. 

transhipping value adding.. no matter what somehow we have to do something... the tax just to drag abit to have some funds back from going overseas

[5:25 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: I also dunno how local retailer earn, do they actually earn much? Something is lucrative until majority gets into it then market saturated

[5:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: Why are they waiting 2 years??

[5:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: So let you have time to think of what’s next

[5:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ken: A lot of people do such business in Singapore also reselling to other places

[5:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: No, but it evens the price up so we buy more locally.

[5:26 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: need time to implment ma

[5:27 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: implement

[5:27 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: Wow, takes 2 years...

[5:27 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: But what's the point to force people to buy locally if local costs are obviously higher than overseas like best example out there, China?

[5:28 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: I see your point. I guess if we don't want a local retail industry then sure just buy from wherever.

[5:28 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: Good to keep it small and hope we can top it back slowly but steadily

[5:28 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: I think the point is want to collect more $$$

[5:28 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: However, why should local retailers have to pay 7% and overseas one not have to pay?

[5:28 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: to fund

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: Should be GST for the goods, not where they are bought from.

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: ya

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: put it this way they are doing this to help substain the local retail also

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: Other wise it's a Singapore retail tax, not a good tax

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: so from 2023, is GST for everything

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: no more loophole

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: these again is we teach them one

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: Yes,  fair

[5:29 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: everyone cheap cheap buy from oversea

[5:30 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: so local retail complain also

[5:30 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: den after observation they saw the holes

[5:30 pm, 16/02/2021] +Rama: 🤷‍♂️

[5:30 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: But if I win something and it's <$400 I still have to pay GST? Sad sia

[5:31 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: ya

[5:31 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: to add into the numbers of total scam

[5:31 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: lol

[5:31 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: u win something from oversea usually is a scam hahahaha

[5:31 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: like dear xxxx u win 1 million dollars from a dead client i recently handled

[5:31 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: hahahahahaha

[5:32 pm, 16/02/2021] +Stella Yip: Is it just for import? What about export? Will other countries retaliate? If so, will local exporting biz suffer??

[5:34 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: You guys all don't catch my drift 

There are indeed legitimate contests where you can win stuff, last time I won an Intel NUC (for those who remember) 

The price was >$400 so I had to pay $65 GST so understandable luh but what if I win (or redeem) something like say a notebook and they send from overseas, I kena charged for that?? No way mann

[5:34 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: this one, the sponsor of the prize can pay first ma

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: not necessary the receiver pay the GST

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Ya they pay for shipping, GST is "local taxes"

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: i think sponsor price is all paid for already

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: unless is cheapo company

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: I understood the NUC thing already, I'm putting forth a hypothesis now

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: unless u won a car

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: like how many cars prizes ahhh win the car but coe not included

[5:35 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: then excluded COE

[5:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: something like that hahahaha

[5:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: Cuz recently I finally got the 2 notebooks I redeemed from NXP 

Mind you, they are writing notebooks, not computer notebooks LOL

[5:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: note book ahhh gst few cents hahahaha

[5:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: how about parcel send as gifts?

[5:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +Caleb: also need tax?

[5:37 pm, 16/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: I believe everything imported needs to pay GST

[5:37 pm, 16/02/2021] +NATs: But like stupid ma HAHAHA

[5:40 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: gifts i think no need but they will depend on the declare amount

[5:43 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: 💬 ICYMI: Budget 2021 💬

💬 ICYMI: Budget 2021 💬

1️⃣ Budget 2021: Govt extends Jobs Support Scheme by up to 6 months; sectors to get 10-30% tiered wage subsidies :  https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-govt-extends-jobs-support-scheme-by-up-to-6-months-sectors-to-get-10-30-tiered

2️⃣ Additional $870m to help battered aviation sector : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-additional-870mto-help-battered-aviation-sector-more-aid-for-land-transport

3️⃣ 55,000 people have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-55000-have-received-both-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine

4️⃣ $11b to support three-pronged approach to help Singapore bounce back from Covid-19 : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-11b-to-support-three-pronged-approach-to-help-singapore-bounce-back-from-covid

5️⃣ Tim Ho Wan saves three to five man-hours daily thanks to automation process: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-tim-ho-wan-saves-three-to-five-man-hours-daily-thanks-to-automation-process

6️⃣ Local companies can access co-funding schemes to transform, digitalise : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-tim-ho-wan-saves-three-to-five-man-hours-daily-thanks-to-automation-process

7️⃣ Father of two took up traineeship to develop skills in deep-tech sector : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-father-of-two-took-up-traineeship-to-develop-skills-in-deep-tech-sector

8️⃣ Scheme in offing to transform construction, real estate value chain : https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/budget-2021-scheme-in-offing-to-transform-construction-real-estate-value-chain

9️⃣ S Pass quota for foreign workers in manufacturing to be cut to 15% by 2023 : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-s-pass-quota-for-foreign-workers-in-manufacturing-to-be-cut-to-15-by-2023

🔟  14,000 low-income families to benefit from ComLink over next two years : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-14000-low-income-families-to-benefit-from-comlink-over-next-two-years

1️⃣1️⃣ Healthcare workers to get pay rise for exemplary commitment : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-healthcare-workers-to-get-pay-rise-for-their-exemplary-commitment

1️⃣2️⃣ $20m fund to match ComChest donations raised through spontaneous acts of giving : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-20-million-fund-to-match-comchest-donations-raised-through-spontaneous-acts-of 

1️⃣3️⃣ New $60m agri-food cluster transformation fund to boost local production through technology : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-20-million-fund-to-match-comchest-donations-raised-through-spontaneous-acts-of

1️⃣4️⃣ New measures to narrow cost difference between electric cars and conventional cars : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-new-measures-to-narrow-cost-difference-between-electric-cars-and-conventional

1️⃣5️⃣ Govt to issue some $19b of green bonds on select public infrastructure projects : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-govt-to-issue-some-19b-of-green-bonds-on-select-public-infrastructure-projects

1️⃣6️⃣ Some govt agencies to make early switch to chillers using refrigerants with low-global warming potential : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-some-govt-agencies-to-make-early-switch-to-chillers-using-refrigerants-with

1️⃣7️⃣ Singapore to dip into reserves for second year to fund $11 billion Covid-19 package : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-singapore-to-dip-into-reserves-for-second-year-to-fund-11-billion-covid-19

1️⃣8️⃣ Petrol duties raised with immediate effect, road tax rebates to help offset increased costs : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-petrol-duties-raised-with-immediate-effect-road-tax-rebates-to-help-offset

1️⃣9️⃣ GST hike to take place between 2022 and 2025, 'sooner rather than later', says DPM Heng : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-gst-hike-to-take-place-between-2022-and-2025-sooner-rather-than-later-says-dpm

2️⃣0️⃣ S'pore to impose GST on goods bought online imported by air or post : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-spore-to-impose-gst-on-goods-bought-online-imported-by-air-or-post

2️⃣1️⃣ Singapore may need to dip further into reserves to invest in future economy : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-singapore-may-need-to-dip-further-into-reserves-to-invest-in-future-economy

2️⃣2️⃣ Expected deficit of $11b in 2021 with continued efforts to tide Singapore over Covid-19 crisis : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-expected-deficit-of-11b-in-2021-with-continued-efforts-to-tide-singapore-over

2️⃣3️⃣ Govt to issue up to $90b in new bonds to finance infrastructure like MRT lines and tidal walls :  https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/budget-2021-govt-to-issue-up-to-90b-in-new-bonds-to-finance-infrastructure-like

2️⃣4️⃣ Govt will review carbon tax rate, which will remain at $5 per tonne until 2023 : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-2021-government-will-review-carbon-tax-rate-which-will-remain-at-5-per-tonne-until

[5:44 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: this one really ICYMI

[5:44 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: total summary of everything lol

[5:45 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

💬 Which Budget 2021 measure resonates with you?

[5:46 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: why no good

[5:46 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: support the company for another 2 quater means alot

[5:47 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: i work in a company where it was claim the support scheme save them millions to the extend they can pass these saving to our clients

[5:47 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: it helps to keeps job and keep jobless low - keeping job means our society still have spending power

[5:48 pm, 16/02/2021] +Kevinn Wang: is better than a society where jobless rate is up, no spending power , business closing -> chaos ...

[5:56 pm, 16/02/2021] +Alvin: Green initiatives and green/infra bonds. It’s time we go green and fund our own projects that future generations will benefit.

[5:59 pm, 16/02/2021] +Bobby Tan: Jobs Support Scheme and Wage Credit Scheme will definitely help those companies that not doing well some relief. SGUnited is also a very good initiative.

[7:22 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

This year Budget 2021 has notably addressed the following :-

1. Fund Vaccination and healthcare against covid

2. Protect and retain jobs - by providing targeted financial assistance (JSS) to badly affected industry sectors eg. tourism, aviation and to lesser impacted sectors like retail, nightspots.

3. Provide fund to help to further transform business and create transformed jobs by reskilling workers and develop skills in deep tech sectors - through ITM.

4. Fund and create new industry sector like high tech agri-food sector, retool construction, and real estate value chain - and thereby creating new jobs for Singaporeans.

5. Address Income Inequality - by providing cash benefits to lower-income group and HDB dwellers.

6. Invest in Green Sustainability infrastructure - to tackle Global Climate and provide tax incentive for green cars vis-a-vis traditional cars.

7. Strive to achieve fiscal prudence with long term goal to achieve balanced Budget. 

Eg. 

- very small drawout from reserves ($1.7 billion), 

- $11 billion budget deficit (whereby $11 billion is used to tackle covid to ensure social resiliency. If covid pandemic is over, this $11 billion no longer applied and we will have a balanced budget).

- Green Bonds are employed to exploit the "near zero" interest to fund our investment in Green Infrastructure and MRT projects.

- To raise GST from 7% to 9% to maintain fiscal resiliency (though unpopular). Hope GST relief can be given to lower and middle income group - who suffer under it.

- To implement GST on eCommerce online purchase which is now tax-free - to plug "tax loopholes" and discover an alternative revenue source for the Government.

- To levy carbon tax to boost our financial revenue and encourage Enterprise to go green.

[7:28 pm, 16/02/2021] +Ben: I understand Green Cars are not a silver bullet, but a step in the right direction. 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/budget-2021-petrol-duty-hiked-23-singapore-takes-fresh-steps-combat-climate-change

[7:30 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

But one thing seems to be missing in the Budget 2021 :-

"Did every Ministries setup a business unit - to assist the respective industry sectors" as mention below :-

[0:12 pm, 23/11/2020] ☸️  Danny 心: 

2. Help business to tap the myriad of FTAs eg. CPTPP, RCEP, and other FTAs to grow their overseas business - and create jobs for Singaporeans.

3. Help business to transform into digitalisation and e-commerce - to complement traditional business. And hence create new jobs for Singaporeans.

4. Encourage business to join their respective business association.

5. Corresponding Ministries should engage the respective industry - in deep engagement similar to ITM engagement to help business transform.

Engagement should be in the form of :-

a. Monthly meeting to discuss how industry and business can transform its  business can change to cater not only to domestic market but also overseas markets.

b. Ministries can provide more information about FTAs, overseas business partners, oversea markets, overseas buyers, suppliers, etc to help local business to penetrate. IE, EDB etc can help to facilitate.

c. Organise targeted industry specific seminars, conference, exhibition etc to tie up local business to overseas business to open up new business opportunities.

d. Facilitate training, consultancy services, to help business and its workers to exploit new business opportunities and job opportunities.

[0:15 pm, 23/11/2020] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Ministries engagement should not be a one-off affair.

It should be a continuous engagement.

Thus individual Ministries must setup a business unit with strong focus in industry engagement that helps the respective industry to grow and tap not only local market, but also regional markets and global market.

[7:36 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: 👀 #ICYMI 👀: Budget 2021

📌 Recorded Budget Speech https://www.facebook.com/MOFsg/videos/271592734386929/?vh=e 

➡️ COVID-19 Resilience Package : https://www.facebook.com/MOFsg/posts/4090983044259266 

➡️ Emerging Stronger, Together: https://www.facebook.com/MOFsg/posts/4090992030925034

➡️ Emerging Stronger as an Economy : https://www.facebook.com/MOFsg/posts/4091012520922985 

➡️ Innovate, Transform, and Scale: https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091022997588604/?d=w

➡️ Developing Singapore’s Human Capital : https://www.facebook.com/MOFsg/posts/4091045864252984

➡️ Household Support Package: https://www.facebook.com/MOFsg/posts/4091062287584675 

➡️ Equal Opportunities for All : https://www.facebook.com/MOFsg/posts/4091077547583149

➡️ Emerging Stronger as a Community: https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091091010915136/?d=w

➡️ Technology as a Game Changer to Climate Change : https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091103994247171/?d=w

➡️ Driving the transition to a car-life society: https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091117517579152/?d=w

➡️ Developing green finance to enable sustainability efforts : https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091133177577586/?d=w

➡️ Balancing between short and Long term needs: https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091143197576584/?d=w

➡️ GST extended to Low-value goods from 1 Jan 2023: https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091150337575870/?d=w

➡️ Significant Infrastructure Government Loan Act (SINGA): https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091160034241567/?d=w

➡️ Emerging Stronger, Towards a Sustainable Future for All: https://www.facebook.com/168442899846653/posts/4091198374237733/?d=w

[7:46 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Wonder how many companies in Singapore really exploits the myriad of FTAs that our government have secured?

2. With ITM and digital transformation of our Enterprises - SMEs, GLCs, Big Local Enterprises etc can tap online platform to do business with enterprises worldwide and help our local businesses to grow.

3. Thus, if the Ministries setup a business unit each in conjunction with each lTM industry sectors, to help the businesses under each ITM to reach out under the myriad of FTAs - then our economy will grow significantly.

[7:53 pm, 16/02/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. And if revenue and profit grow, our Government can collect more taxes - as many of our Enterprises revenue and profit are derive overseas under the armbit of FTAs (no longer confine to our local domestic market) - make possible by the FTAs.

[8:45 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors!

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan

[9:00 pm, 16/02/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors, 

Thank you for valuable feedback, we are encouraged by your active discussion. 😊

We will be closing this chat for now and will resume tomorrow. 

Stay tuned! 

Megan 😊

====

How to convince the whole population to take vaccination against covid-19

13 Feb 2021 

REACH

*Feedbacks received from people on the ground concerning Vaccination against covid*

1. Through conversation with quite a number of people, notice that many people is convinced to take their vaccination when their turns come.

2. But quite a sizeable of minority are not supportive of vaccination :-

a. A group is fearful of vaccination :-

- some a elderly who feel that they are weak and on long-term medication - they are afraid that their body cannot take it or they may experience some side effects that trigger their fear.

- news about Norway where some nursing home elderly pass away - even though it is proven that their demise are not related to the vaccination. But this fear strike home.

- some younger or mature people are sceptical about what the vaccines will bring in terms of adverse effects in the short term, medium term and long term

- yet some prefer to wait and see how the rest of the people who are vaccinate react to the vaccines before they decide to vaccinate.

- some are hardcore group that don't believe in vaccination - no matter what.

b. Some groups cannot be vaccinated :-

- Those who react adversely to the vaccines (eg. allergy trigger by PEG of the mRNA vaccines)

- Young children 16 years and below.

- Pregnant women and breast-feeding.

3. Pondering the big numbers and letting it go, it becoming disturbing and worrying - as it will still pose a pubic health problem - if Sngapore fail to address the vaccination for the unvaccinated group.

---------

*Consequences of sizeable minority not taking vaccination*

1. To achieve herd immunity against original covid (less contagious) - 80% of the resident population need to be vaccinated.

- This mean 4.48 million of population need to be vaccinated.

- 1.12 million people will not be vaccinated.

2. To achieve herd immunity against more contagious mutant covid strains (like UK B117 strain, SAfrica strain, Brazil strains) - 90% of the resident population need to be vaccinated.

- This mean 5.04 million of population need to be vaccinated.

- 560,000 people will not be vaccinated.

3. Those people unvaccinated form a large group to be secured and protected against infection - when we open up our Economy to the World - when the vaccination exercise is over ---- a very large surface area to secure.

4. The large unvaccinated group, a large surface area to secure ---- will have put tremendous stress on our hospital facilites, strike fear among the Community and impact Economic recovery and opening up of the borders - if infection spread among the unvaccinated.

5. Thus this is no longer an issue of allowing a large group of people who are fearful or those who refuse to get vaccination - to roam freely.

6. Because if the World pandemic is not over and the covid totally defeated and demise, there is a possiblity that those unvaccinated may get infected - and spread among those unvaccinated in the Community.

7. Thus, the issue now become a matter of not adopting a lay-back reactive approach to let the population decide on their own vaccination (though I am not suggesting the government is operating in this mode) - especially those who are not willing to get themselves vaccinated.

8. A more systematic approach to coax, convince and get the unvaccinated group - to get vaccinated may become necessary.

----

*Approach to coax and secure vaccination for unvaccinated group*

1. Onion analogy

- To get to the core of the onion, there is a need to peel "layer by layer" until all the outer layers are peel off - we can finally see the "core".

- Likewise, to convince those unvaccinated groups to get vaccinated - we need to adopt the "onion approach" ---- peeling their resistance "layer by layer" to get to the core - and finally relent and agree.

2. Layer-by-layer approach

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

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

- Other family members try to convince those who are fearful of vaccination.

- Send Government officers, health officers or experience volunteers to coax and convince elderly, as well as others who are unwilling to vaccinate to get vaccinated.

- Get the rest of the family members vaccinated - and when they see there are no harm or danger cause by the vaccines - it may finally convince them to vaccinate.

3. Prod and find the "right key" to open the "hard" "heart" "lock"

- Visit and re-visit for those hardcore unvaccinated group - by trying to find the "right key" to open their heart and finally relent.

- Remember, even with one unvaccinated - it will still pose a risk to the Community for the virus to latch on - and re-infect the Community.

- It is thus important to discover their "fear", "pain points" or "what really concern them about the vaccination" - and address them "head-on" to get the unvaccinated groups sign on for the vaccination.

4. Learn from other Countries who are speeding and forging ahead and reaching herd immunity - how they convince their "anti-vaxx" group to vaccinate :-

- Countries like Israel has completed vaccinating about 60% of their population - and now finding more challenging to get into the last 40% who are providing resistance to the vaccination.

- We can learn from Israel how they achieve "herd immunity" by persuading and convincing the last 40% to vaccinate.

- The Israel approach in breaking down hardcore "anti-vaccination" group - can be our case studies - that we can adopt and apply it for our needs.

- Likewise, UK and US (coming up) ---- are also forging ahead in their vaccination --- and similarly we can learn from them --- how they approach the "anti-vaxx" hardcore to get them vaccinated.

5. Exploring alternatives for those groups that cannot be vaccinated.

- For those who are fearful of needle vaccination, may want to consider the oral vaccines currently under trial - and if successful use it as part of our vaccination programme.

Eg. Vaxart oral COVID-19 tablet vaccine

https://www.contagionlive.com/view/vaxart-has-developed-the-first-oral-investigational-covid-19-vaccine

- For the group that are Anaphylaxis - allergy to mRNA vaccine using PEG coating - use 

other type of non-mRNA vaccines eg. inactivated virus vaccine, viral vector vaccines, protein sub-unit vaccine.

- For the children below 16 years old - use vaccines that are successful after trial for children (eg. Sinopharm is safe and effective for children between 3 years to 17 years, Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna - on trial for children below 16 years and 18 years old respectively).

- For pregnant women and breast-feeding - Israel and US have vaccinated against pregnant women successfully (but should also weigh ---- should vaccination be done on pregnant women --- or wait for 9 months after delivery then vaccinate.

As for women doing breast-feeding, can vaccinate but refrain from breast-feeding for 7 days will suffice.

6. I thus suggest the Government to give due consideration to this vaccination strategy for the unvaccinated group among our population ---- so that we can restart our Economy, open up our borders and attract business, tourists and business travellers safely.

================