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Article | Members of the public will soon be able to purchase antigen rapid test (ART) self-test kits at Guardian, Unity, and Watsons retail pharmacies in Singapore from June 16, 2021.The Ministry of Health (Singapore) announced on Thursday, June 10 that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has granted interim authorisation for four ART self-test kits to be sold to the general public via retail pharmacies.These tests can be self-administered and can produce results in less than 20 minutes.#covidtesting | https://mothership.sg/2021/06/self-test-kits-antigen-rapid-testts-pharmacies/ | mothership-sg | Members of the public will soon be able to purchase antigen rapid test (ART) self-test kits at pharmacies in Singapore from June 16, 2021.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced today (June 10) that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has granted interim authorisation for four ART self-test kits to be sold to the general public via retail pharmacies. They are:
Abbott PanBio Covid-19 Antigen Self-test QuickVue At-Home OTC Covid-19 Test SD Biosensor SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self-Test Nasal SD Biosensor Standard Q Covid-19 Ag Home Test
These tests can be self-administered and can produce results in less than 20 minutes.
Available at Guardian, Unity, and Watsons retail pharmacies from June 16
They will available at Guardian, Unity, and Watsons retail pharmacies from June 16, and subsequently at more retail locations progressively.
More information on the kits, including how to use them and interpret the results, will be made available via various media channels, and on the MOH website from June 16 as well.
To ensure that there are adequate supplies for all, each person can only purchase up to 10 ART kits initially.
The ministry said that these self-test kits will allow it to detect cases more quickly, particularly among individuals who do not have acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms but are concerned that they may have been exposed to Covid-19.
Those who attain a positive result from their ART self-test should approach a Swab and Send Home Public Health Preparedness Clinic (SASH PHPC) immediately to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to confirm the diagnosis.
They must self-isolate until they receive a negative PCR test result.
Unlike the ART test, a PCR test is more sensitive and delivers a more accurate result. Corresponding, a PCR test result takes longer to return — around two days.
The ministry also advises individuals with acute respiratory infection symptoms to visit a doctor for a full diagnosis and PCR test instead of relying on an ART self-test kit.
Top images via Quidel Corporation and Abbott. |
Article | Singapore residents should continue working from home whenever possible, even as the country transitions out of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), the Multi-ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced on June 10, 2021.Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and co-chair of the MTF said that working from home will remain the default for the next few weeks.Employers should also continue to stagger start times of employees who need to return to the workplace, and implement flexible working hours, with no cross-deployment of workers to multiple worksites.#covid #workingfromhome | https://mothership.sg/2021/06/work-from-home-default-after-phase-2-heightened-alert/ | mothership-sg | Singapore residents should continue working from home whenever possible, even as the country transitions out of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), the Multi-ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced on June 10, 2021.
Speaking in the press conference, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and co-chair of the MTF said that working from home will remain the default for the next few weeks.
The measure is "essential" to keep transmission risks in check, as it reduces overall footfall and interactions at common spaces at or near the workplace, and in public places, including public transport.
Employers should continue to stagger start times of employees who need to return to the workplace, and implement flexible working hours.
There should continue to be no cross-deployment of workers to multiple worksites.
Singapore moved out of work-from-home as default on Apr. 5, 2021, but reimplemented it on May 16 in light of rising community cases.
In May this year, 11 companies were issued fines for failing to ensure that employees who could work from home did so.
Top photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash |
Article | Singapore Press Holdings announced several days ago that it is restructuring its media business into a CLG, a not-for-profit entity.We explain what led to this decision, what a CLG is, and who might possibly fund SPH media in future.#MSExplains #media | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/sph-restructuring-clg-explainer/ | mothership-sg | The Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) took the spotlight on May 6 and it wasn't just because of the umbrage that its CEO, Ng Yat Chung, took.
While the public and local memelords are having a field day with Ng's comment, the bigger piece of news is that SPH is restructuring its media business into a not-for-profit entity — big enough for media academic Cherian George to call it the "biggest shake-up of Singapore’s news media industry in decades".
Why does SPH want to turn its media business into a non-profit?
In short, like any publicly listed company, SPH faces pressure to provide its shareholders with dividends. But the dividends have been shrinking over the years in tandem with the shrinking profits from its media operations.
Why is that so?
Because of advertising dollars, specifically the lack of it.
The decline of print advertising
SPH said that its operating revenue has dropped by half in the past five years, due "largely to a decline in print advertising and print subscription revenue".
Print advertising, referring to advertisements in newspapers and magazines, have indeed been decreasing thanks to the rise of Google and Facebook who provide platforms for online advertising.
Those who remember reading newspapers 20 years back would recall that the papers used to be bulging with pages and pages of advertisements. Think full-page advertisements and a thick Classifieds section.
Selling advertisement space is how newspapers make money, apart from their subscription revenue.
But for years now, advertisers have been flocking to digital advertising — like the ones you see on this page — because readers are spending an increasing amount of time online.
The switch to digital advertising affects all media companies, but the impact on SPH is disproportionately large because it owns (and publishes) all the newspapers in Singapore (the Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Berita Harian etc.)
SPH recorded first-ever loss in 2020
That said, SPH has been making some profits over the years. But last year, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, SPH went into the red.
The company said in its May 6 announcement:
"[SPH] recorded its first-ever loss of S$11.4 million for the financial year ended 31 August 2020. If not for the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS), the loss would have been a deeper S$39.5 million."
SPH added that its media business incurred a pre-tax loss of S$9.7 million (not including JSS grant) for the six months which ended on February 28, 2021.
While SPH has other businesses (property, student hostel accommodation, and nursing home facilities) which are performing relatively well, the conglomerate's shareholders (who invested in SPH and expect regular dividends in return) aren't likely to be happy about the business subsidising its loss-making media operations.
SPH said as much — that being subject to "expectations from shareholders of profitability and regular dividends" is no longer a sustainable model for its media business.
While SPH's media operations had still been turning a profit prior to Covid-19, revenue has been declining over the years. George underscored this point when he said:
"In many cases, editorial capacity [in corporate media] has been shrunk not because companies are making losses, but because they are not profitable enough."
Turning the company into a CLG
SPH proposes to spin off its media business into SPH Media Holdings Pte Ltd, a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), injecting S$80 million in cash as well as S$30 million in SPH shares and SPH Reit units into the new entity.
Such a model is usually used by non-profit organisations, which need corporate status to perform certain functions, like borrowing credit and buying or selling property.
Examples of local CLGs include the National University of Singapore, The Esplanade, Temasek Foundation and The Arts House.
Examples of overseas media companies that operate as non-profits include The Guardian which is controlled by the Scott Trust, German media conglomerate Bertelsmann, and the Philadelphia Inquirer, which is owned by the Lenfest Institute.
Removing shareholder pressure
One of the immediate benefits of the new arrangement is that SPH Media won't face shareholder pressure.
Unlike the listed company that SPH is, a CLG cannot raise funds by issuing shares, so it has no shareholders to answer to (and correspondingly, no dividends to pay out).
Instead, it has members who act as guarantors. These guarantors will agree to pay a nominal sum (it can be as low as S$1) if the CLG folds. Hence the liability for members is limited to the guarantee.
SPH said that moving to a CLG structure will allow its media business to focus on "transformation efforts and quality journalism, as well as to invest in talent and new technology to strengthen its digital capabilities".
Open to a range of public and private funding
The next benefit is that the new structure will open SPH Media to "a range of public and private sources with a shared interest in supporting quality journalism and credible information", said the conglomerate.
It won't shield SPH from the same decline in print advertising that has decimated its media revenue, but funding can help to plug the gaps left by advertising dollars — if SPH Media can find people and organisations to support it financially.
Would you consider donating to keep @official_sph media ventures alive? — Benjamin "Mr Miyagi" Lee (@miyagi) May 7, 2021
Private funding can come from foundations, philanthropic groups and wealthy individuals, though one does wonder how many of them here in Singapore are able (and willing) to fund the costly business of printing the news in the long run.
Funding can also come from the Singapore government, who is likely to be the party with the deepest pockets and the motivation to do so.
Former SPH editor Bertha Henson surmised that the proposal to restructure into a CLG was mainly to allow funding from the government. George, in his piece for the South China Morning Post opined that the government will become a "major patron of the press".
And indeed, shortly after SPH made its announcement, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) said that it supports the restructuring, subject to shareholder approval, and is willing to provide financial support:
"Our goal is to help the local news media and our journalists adapt and thrive in the digital era while maintaining the high professional standards we expect and value."
Former editor of Today and The New Paper, PN Balji told Mothership that from a commercial point of view, spinning the media arm off is "the right decision":
"From the editorial point of view, honestly it cannot get worse than it is now, right? So no big deal. The bigger question really.....is can it attract talent?"
Mothership Explains is a series where we dig deep into the important, interesting, and confusing going-ons in our world and try to, well, explain them.
This series aims to provide in-depth, easy-to-understand explanations to keep our readers up to date on not just what is going on in the world, but also the "why's".
Top image adapted from SPH papers, screengrab from Straits Times YouTube video. |
Article | 30-year-old Nur Ashikin binte Seman has been a foodpanda delivery rider since March 2018.Formerly a stay-at-home-mother for three years, Ashikin told us that after her family was hit with unfortunate "personal problems," she was forced to take on the mantle as the sole breadwinner of the family.Although she had prior job experiences in the service industry, doing food delivery was an ideal job given the flexibility it provides, especially as a mother to a young child.Additionally, Ashikin owns a TikTok account where she shares snippets of her day as a delivery rider in Singapore, with a growing fanbase of over 25,000 followers. | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/foodpanda-single-mother-tiktok/ | mothership-sg | Those living in the west may have seen a foodpanda delivery rider with a pink Honda ADV 150 motorcycle, wearing a black helmet fitted with cat ears and braids.
Or perhaps she may have appeared on your For You page on TikTok, clad in her foodpanda uniform doing the latest dance trends.
She is 30-year-old Nur Ashikin binte Seman, also known as the "Lady foodpanda Rider".
Over 25,000 TikTok followers
Ashikin owns a TikTok account where she shares snippets of her day as a delivery rider in Singapore, with a growing fanbase of over 25,000 followers.
When asked how she rose to fame on the popular video-sharing platform, even she didn't really know how it happened.
"It was so random, really. One fine day, I had a shift starting in half an hour so I was scrolling through TikTok. And since I was so bored, so let's try this TikTok thing and find out what the hype is about."
So she posted a video of herself and promptly started her shift:
Before she knew it, her phone was buzzing continuously with likes and comments on the video.
She said: "While I was working, my battery almost died twice because of that video!"
Since then, she shared that people have approached her while she is working, recognising her iconic helmet and pink ride.
"I talk to people all the time, so I treat them like my friends."
Working since March 2018
While her account has recently begun to gain traction, Ashikin has been a delivery rider since March 2018.
It was a job that she had taken up out of necessity.
Formerly a stay-at-home-mother for three years, Ashikin told us that after her family was hit with unfortunate "personal problems," she was forced to take on the mantle as the sole breadwinner of the family.
Although she had prior job experiences in the service industry, doing food delivery was an ideal job given the flexibility it provides, especially as a mother to a young child.
Full-time mother
While Ashikin typically takes afternoon shifts that last between four and six hours, she starts off her day very early.
Her daily routine starts at 5am, by preparing her six-year-old son's schoolbag before getting him ready for school.
The working mother savours every moment she can spend with her son before walking him to preschool, where he'd be till the afternoon.
Although it is important for her to work and make a living, it is equally as important for her to be a present parent in her son's life.
"I try to be around as soon as possible. When he's in school, that's when I go out to work," she said.
Like most food delivery riders, she began her career by commuting with a personal mobility device (PMD).
Got motorcycle license in two months
Unfortunately, she had to give that up following the ban of e-scooters on Nov. 5, 2019.
Although this was a big hurdle for a lot of food delivery riders in Singapore, Ashikin saw it as an opportune time to upgrade her skills.
She said: "The very next day [after the ban], I enrolled to get a [motorcycle] license at 7am and from 8am onwards, I attended the lessons."
She passed her theory and practical lessons and got herself a motorcycle in less than two months.
She stressed, however, that getting a motorcycle was necessary for her to carry out her job efficiently in order to provide for her family.
While one would imagine riding around Singapore to deliver food no matter rain or shine to be especially trying during the fasting month, Ashikin shrugged it off and said that it feels like "any normal day".
"It's not really a challenge, except for the sun. You'd get thirsty and it's really hot."
The biggest challenge she's faced in her career so far, however, also happens to be the most memorable customer she has ever encountered.
Only S$50 in bank
Ashikin recalled a bitter-sweet incident where she only had S$50 in her bank account.
The sum was barely enough to fill up her motorcycle with petrol and buy two meals for her ex-husband and her son.
"My petrol was running out and I have to buy food for my family. Obviously, I have to use the petrol to go to work and with the balance, I spent it for my ex-husband's and my son's food... excluding myself."
Almost at her wits' end, she took on one more delivery for the day so that she could cash out her profits for the day.
She remembered telling herself: "Dear God, please give me some rezeki (sustenance) today."
And it seems like God works in mysterious ways.
Upon making the delivery to a customer's house, he told her to wait while he headed in to get something for her.
"When I knocked the door, the uncle just looked at me, paused for a while and told me to wait for him. I was confused, did I do something wrong? But when he came back, he took out S$50 [from his wallet] and gave it to me."
Son keeps her going
While thoughtful customers like this who brighten her day, it is her son who gives her the strength to keep going on.
In fact, if not for her son, she never would have thought that she would end up having a career in food delivery.
"I have worked in F&B and hotels, but [being in the] delivery line is very unexpected. I never even imagined myself owning a bike! If I didn't have a son, I don't know where I'd be. Every mother would say that [our] children is the light at the end of the tunnel. He guides me."
And apart from providing for her family, the job also gives her a better understanding as to why her fellow food delivery riders are doing this as well.
"Everybody has their own story on why they do food delivery. If you think your problem is big, there are others who have bigger problems. We're all just doing this to survive."
Top image courtesy of Ashikin binte Seman. |
Article | Two years ago, the Ministry of Health (Singapore) announced that Singapore will be banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in all foods sold in Singapore from June 2021.In a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 1, Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary announced that the ban has officially kicked in, which means that PHOs should no longer be included as an ingredient in food products in supermarkets.This measure is in addition to the two per cent limit on trans fat content in fats and oils sold in Singapore, introduced in 2013, to help reduce the average daily trans fat intake among Singaporeans.#food #health #singapore | https://mothership.sg/2021/06/phos-ban-2021/ | mothership-sg | Two years ago, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that Singapore will be banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in all foods sold in Singapore from June 2021.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 1, Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary announced that the ban has officially kicked in, which means that PHOs should no longer be included as an ingredient in food products in supermarkets.
In his post, Janil says the PHO ban is a "significant step" towards creating a healthier environment for Singaporeans.
This measure is in addition to the two per cent limit on trans fat content in fats and oils sold in Singapore, introduced in 2013, to help reduce the average daily trans fat intake among Singaporeans.
Wait, what are PHOs?
PHOs are a key source of artificial trans fat, commonly found in pre-packaged foods such as oils, frozen baked goods, and snacks such as potato chips.
They can lead to an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol.
An increase in bad cholesterol has in turn been associated with an increased risk for heart disease, which remains a leading cause of death in Singapore.
No sign of PHOs in supermarkets
When Mothership visited some supermarkets on June 1, we found that the oil section remained well-stocked, and indeed PHO-free.
Staff employees told Mothership that they were not aware of the PHO-ban though, which suggests the changes to products might have been implemented a while before the official ban.
When the announcement first came out, six companies pledged to comply with the ban by June 2020.
They are Gardenia Foods, Nestle Singapore, NTUC FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong Group and Sunshine Bakeries.
Images via Syahindah Ishak and Jinghui Lean |
Article | With work from home as a default, taxi drivers and private hire drivers (PHVs) have seen a reduction in ridership.Thankfully, Because We Care and Share and Serve Our City Singapore, together with the Whampoa Community Development & Welfare Fund Committee have come up with a joint initiative – The Drive-Thru Lunch Treats – to help alleviate some of these burdens.From now till June 11, taxi drivers and private hire drivers can collect a free pack of lunch and a care pack between 10:15am to 11:15am on Mondays to Fridays. 100 packs will be given out a day.#privatehiredrivers #taxidrivers #community #singapore | https://mothership.sg/2021/06/free-lunch-taxi-private-hire-drivers/ | mothership-sg | With work from home as a default, taxi drivers and private hire drivers (PHVs) have seen a reduction in ridership.
Thankfully, Because We Care and Share and Serve Our City Singapore, together with the Whampoa Community Development & Welfare Fund Committee have come up with a joint initiative – The Drive-Thru Lunch Treats – to help alleviate some of these burdens.
100 lunch packs
Drive-Thru Lunch Treats was launched on May 31.
Volunteers will be distributing 100 packets of lunch to the drivers.
Taxi drivers and PHVs can collect a free pack of lunch and a care pack from them at Kallang Community Club (CC) between the time of 10:15am to 11:15am every weekday, from May 31 to Jun. 11.
A makeshift drive through point has been set up for the food distribution and collection.
The food, along with a care pack containing wet wipes, hand soap and a travel sized hand sanitiser, will be handed over to the drivers with a tray to prevent contact.
PHVs should have their PHV decals ready and visible to collect the meal, said Because We Care and Share in their Facebook post.
Helping both drivers and hawkers
Volunteers from Serve Our City Singapore bought and packaged lunch for the drivers.
According to their Facebook post, the community organisers and volunteers have prepared halal, non-halal and vegetarian options.
Food including chicken rice, nasi goreng, xinzhou beehoon, charsiew and roast pork rice were bought from Berseh Food Centre and Bendemeer Market and Food Centre for the drivers to enjoy.
This not only benefits drivers but hawkers as well; another group hard hit by the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures.
This initiative was designed with the intention to support both groups during Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).
Lunch collection and distribution details
Kallang CC
Address: 45 Boon Keng Rd, Singapore 339771
Dates: Weekdays till 11 Jun
Timing: 10.15am-11.15am
You can read the post here.
Related stories:
Top image from Because We Care and Share/FB |
Article | The biggest penthouse unit at Park Nova, a new luxury freehold condo located at 18 Tomlinson Road, has been sold for a staggering S$34.4 million.Park Nova boasts three penthouses, all located on the top-most floors. There are also 2- to 3-bedroom units with study, and 4-bedroom units.It was reported that sales for Park Nova began at 2pm on May 7 for the duplex penthouses, while bookings for typical units started from 7pm.By the end of the evening, five units had been sold: two 5-room penthouses as well as three other 4-bedroom units.All the 4-bedroom units were sold above S$14 million. The smallest penthouse of 3,229 sq ft was sold for over S$17 million.According to the head of luxury at PropNex International Pte Ltd, Dominic Lee, all the buyers of the five units are ultra-high net worth individuals, who are foreigners.#realestate #luxury | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/5-bedroom-penthouse-park-nova/ | mothership-sg | The biggest penthouse unit at Park Nova, a new luxury freehold condo located at 18 Tomlinson Road, has been sold for a staggering S$34.4 million.
Park Nova boasts three penthouses, all located on the top-most floors. There are also 2- to 3-bedroom units with study, and 4-bedroom units.
On the 14th floor is a sky garden, hot spa, an outdoor deck, lap pool and jacuzzi.
Duplex penthouse sold for S$34.4m
Sales for Park Nova began at 2pm on May 7 for the duplex penthouses, Edgeprop reported. Bookings for typical units started from 7pm.
By the end of the evening, five units had been sold: two 5-room penthouses as well as three other 4-bedroom units. All the 4-bedroom units were sold above S$14 million.
The smallest penthouse of 3,229 sq ft was sold for over S$17 million.
The biggest 5-bedroom penthouse, at 5,899 sq ft, had garnered interest from more than one party, Head of luxury at PropNex, Dominic Lee told Mothership.
Lee explained that the sale will be decided via balloting if there is a contest for a unit.
However, in the end, only one buyer prevailed as one of the interested buyers decided to go for another penthouse instead.
Lee shared that all the buyers of the five units are ultra-high net worth individuals, who are foreigners.
He was also quoted by Edgeprop saying that price was "no object" for these buyers, who zoomed in on the best units (i.e. the largest units on the topmost floors) of the property.
Top photo via Shun Tak Holdings. |
Article | ComfortDelGro Taxi is providing a 50 per cent daily rental waiver to cabbies from now till June 13, 2021.This comes after announcements by the government that Singapore would be entering Phase 2 (heightened alert) from May 16 till June 13, 2021.On top of this, ComfortDelGro will also not be increasing fares for customers.As ComfortDelGro does not have any platform fees, the financial burden of these extra costs will be borne entirely by them - not by cabbies or customers.#transportation #singapore #covid | https://mothership.sg/2021/06/comfortdelgro-waiving-daily-rental/ | mothership-sg | ComfortDelGro is providing a 50 per cent daily rental waiver to cabbies from May 18 till June 13, 2021.
This comes after announcements by the government that Singapore would be entering Phase 2 (heightened alert) from May 16 till June 13, 2021.
In Phase 2 (HA), several measures have been implemented such as a limit to the number of social gatherings and interactions, a ban on dining out and work-from-home as the default.
Since the new restrictions kicked in, earnings of cabbies have been affected, with customer demand expected to continue falling during this period of heightened alert.
This is why ComfortDelGro Taxi has decided to raise its daily rental waiver for cabbies to 50 per cent per taxi, which comes on top of:
The government’s Covid-19 Relief Fund (CDRF) of S$25 per day per taxi
Road Tax Rebate
Performance Incentives
Medisave Contributions
Daily Hybrid Rebate
According to Cabby Lee Yong Hock, “Taxis depend on passengers who need rides to go to work and to go out. With the latest measures, the demand for such trips has dropped.”
He added that “had the company not stepped in to help us with the 50 per cent rental waiver, I’d have to shoulder a higher rental. But the company reacted quickly enough, and the rental waiver has helped to relieve that burden by half."
Despite the current situation, Cabby Lee is hopeful that when the restrictions lift, more people will be needing taxis again.
“I understand that the company is already doing what it can. Cabbies and the company have to work hand in hand to overcome this,” he said.
Company bearing the costs for cabbies and customers
On top of this, ComfortDelGro will also not be increasing fares for customers.
As ComfortDelGro does not have any platform fees, the financial burden of these extra costs will be borne entirely by them - not by cabbies or customers.
Here are some other promotions ComfortDelGro Taxi customers can also enjoy at the moment:
Download the ComfortDelGro Taxi Booking app and sign up now for S$5* off your first street hail taxi ride
Zero admin fee when you pay for a street hail taxi with any credit/debit card in their booking app
Get S$2 + S$2 off when you pay for a street hail taxi with Mastercard
This sponsored article by ComfortDelGro Taxi made this writer appreciate the goodwill of companies during these tough times.
Top image via ComfortDelGro Taxi |
Article | From May 17 to June 14, 2021, 18 home bakers will be participating in a charity bake sale for people with disabilities.Each baker will donate at least 20 per cent of their sales proceeds from the bake sale to SPD, a local charity that helps people with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities.Here are five interesting bakes available in this bake sale that caught our eye.#charity #community | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/home-bakers-bake-sale-spd/ | mothership-sg | With the onset of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) from May 16 to June 13, some of us may need a pick-me-up in such times when dining in at F&B establishments is no longer allowed and social gatherings are limited to two.
Treat yourself and your friends and family by ordering some baked goods from the SPD June 2021 bake sale and help people with disabilities at the same time.
Bake sale
18 home bakers are participating in this charity bake sale which runs from May 17 to June 14, 2021.
Each baker will donate at least 20 per cent of their sales proceeds from the bake sale to SPD, a local charity that helps people with disabilities.
You may place your order via their respective Google form pages.
Here are five interesting bakes available in this bake sale that caught our eye.
1. Babka loaves
For the uninitiated, babka is a sweet braided bread or cake that originated in the Jewish communities of Poland and Ukraine.
Price: S$20
Varieties:
Nutella Hazelnut Biscoff Cookie Butter Dark Chocolate Ganache Cinnamon Chocolate Chips
Baker: The Batter Room
Click here to make your order.
2. Jellycakes
Price:
S$68 for 1.3kg six-inch round lychee and coconut milk tulips jelly cake
S$72 for a set of four 350g mini heart-shaped lychee and coconut milk tulips jelly cake
Baker: Fleur Memories
Click here to make your order.
3. Nasi Lemak Cookies
Price: S$22 for 220g
Baker: AdibeeCookies
Click here to make your order.
4. Ondeh Ondeh Cupcakes
Price:
S$18.50 for box of six
S$35 for box of 12
Baker: MiniMiney
Click here to make your order.
5. Orh Nee Burnt Cheesecake
Price: S$48 for a six-inch cake
Baker: C Mixing Bowl
Click here to make your order.
Other bakes available
Other bakes available in this bake sale include chiffon cake, macarons, brownies, cookies, sourdough muffins, mille crepe cakes, cake rolls, tiramisu, and icing cookies.
For more information on the full list of home bakers and their products, visit the SPD June 2021 Bake Sale page.
If you don't have much of a sweet tooth and prefer to just make a donation, you may also do so here.
For enquiries on the bake sale, you may contact Calvin Lee at 6579 0780 or e-mail [email protected]
What is SPD?
Founded in 1964, SPD serves people with physical, sensory, and learning disabilities through programmes that encompass early intervention, therapy, vocational training, assistive technology, day care, as well as educational, employment and social service support.
Together with their order, customers will also receive a simplified communication board with instructions on how to use it.
Provided by SPD to create awareness of people who are differently-abled, this board is used by people with speech impairment.
Top images by C Mixing Bowl, The Batter Room, and AdibeeCookies. |
Article | A Product Design student in LASALLE College of the Arts sought to promote greater empathy towards stray cats and designed a void deck installation that allows cats to eat, rest and play, as part of his final year project.Evan Tan hopes that the designs, if they are installed, will not only create a safe space for cats to roam around, but also encourage peaceful interactions between people and stray cats in common spaces.This will create an avenue for residents to talk about community cats. #community #people #empathy #productdesign #youthpower | https://mothership.sg/2021/06/student-void-deck-fixtures-stray-cats/ | mothership-sg | A Product Design student in Lasalle College of the Arts sought to promote greater empathy towards community cats and designed a void deck installation that allows cats to eat, rest and play, as part of his final year project.
The student, Evan Tan, felt that the presence of community cats is not always welcomed, and that there is a lack of understanding and awareness of their struggles.
He titled his project, "Just Let Us Live Lah!"
The project includes three installations for three main components of a cat's daily life — eating, resting and playing.
The three designs are named "Habits of Eating", "Habits of Resting" and "Habits of Curiosity", and each highlights an aspect of a community cat's daily habits in community spaces.
The first, "Habits of Eating", was designed to provide a safe space for community cats to eat.
The opaque panels in this installation help to "hide" the cat when it is having its meal, so that it can eat without having to constantly watch its sides for potential danger.
The second design, "Habits of resting", is designed to provide a safe space for community cats to rest, and to show residents that community cats can cohabitate with humans within community spaces.
The third design is "Habits of curiosity", designed to highlight the curious nature of community cats and how they are able to adapt to the surroundings of community spaces.
The designs are made out of aluminium sheet metal finished with powder coating, says Tan.
Tan also added cork sheets to the design for their texture, which he believes the cats will like.
There is also a ratchet strap that secures each design in place, while being easy to remove.
Inspired by community spirit towards community cats
Tan was inspired by the community spirit among those who cared for community cats.
He witnessed this first hand when he adopted a community cat called Blackie during the Circuit Breaker period last year.
Blackie had suffered from cancer for a long time, and when its condition deteriorated, it had to be put down to not prolong its suffering.
He brought Blackie to other community feeders to pay their final respects, but to his surprise, other residents also came to say their goodbyes.
He realised that many in the community had an unspoken bond with community cats, and that sparked his idea for the project.
Future plans
Tan hopes that the designs, if they are installed, will not only create a safe space for cats to roam around, but also encourage peaceful interactions between people and community cats in common spaces.
This will create an avenue for residents to talk about community cats.
Although Tan has plans to discuss his project ideas with the relevant government agencies, he has yet to do so as he does not want to rush out the idea.
He hopes that even if the designs are not installed, the project will "raise public awareness on the plight of community cats."
Tan's intentions for the project, he shared, were "to give light to community cats and the dedicated people who work so hard and fight for the rights just to care for them".
You can see the designs showcased in a video by Tan here:
Related stories
Top images via Evan Tan. |
Article | Akihiko Hoshide is an engineer and astronaut with JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.On April 25, it was reported that Hoshide and three other astronauts went up to the International Space Station (ISS) on a commercial SpaceX ship, successfully docking.On May 11, the Japanese astronaut gave a shout-out to Singapore and the school he once attended from all the way up in space.In his tweet, Hoshide included the hashtag #UWCSEA, which refers to the United World College South East Asia located on Dover Road.#astronaut #space | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/japanese-astronaut-singapore/ | mothership-sg | A Japanese astronaut gave a shout-out to Singapore, and the school he once attended, from all the way up in space.
Singapore, where I spent 2 yrs in high school. Can you spot my school? #UWCSEA pic.twitter.com/JN0Q9oIPLT — 星出 彰彦 (JAXA宇宙飛行士) (@Aki_Hoshide) May 10, 2021
Commander Hoshide
Akihiko Hoshide is an engineer and astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
On April 25, The Japan Times reported that Hoshide and three other astronauts went up to the International Space Station (ISS) on a commercial SpaceX ship, successfully docking.
Hoshide will serve as commander of the ISS and a mission specialist. The previous ISS crew were up in space for six months.
Singaporean connection
Hoshide has a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Keio University, a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Houston, Cullen College of Engineering.
However, he apparently also studied in Singapore.
Hoshide included the hashtag #UWCSEA, which refers to the United World Colleges South East Asia located on Dover Road.
Top image from ISS website and Akihiko Hoshide's Twitter page. |
Article | Fully vaccinated people in the Unites States can forego wearing a face mask and do not have to stay 2m away from others in most settings, whether outdoors or indoors.The White House shared the new public health guidance on social media to relief, anger, and amusement, amongst a mix of emotions from the people.However, this is not a blanket rule as there are settings where masks still have to be worn.These include having to wear masks on airplanes, buses, trains and other public transportation, as well as in a health-care setting or at a business that requires face masks.#health #masks | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/united-states-fully-vaccinated-no-mask-cdc/ | mothership-sg | Fully vaccinated people in the Unites States can forego wearing a face mask and do not have to stay 2m away from others in most settings, whether outdoors or indoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday, May 13 in updated public health guidance.
The White House shared the new public health guidance on social media to relief, anger, and amusement, amongst a mix of emotions from the people.
No need masks or social distancing
“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing,” CDC director and doctor, Rochelle Walensky, told reporters at a press briefing.
She added: “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. We have all longed for this moment, when we can get back to some sense of normalcy.”
Some exceptions
However, this is not a blanket rule as there are settings where masks still have to be worn.
These include having to wear masks on airplanes, buses, trains and other public transportation, as well as in a health-care setting or at a business that requires face masks, Walensky also said.
However, unvaccinated people should still continue to wear masks, she added.
She said these individuals remain at risk of mild or severe illness, death, and risk of spreading the disease to others.
People with compromised immune systems should speak with their doctor before giving up their masks, she also said.
She added there is always a chance the CDC could change its guidance again if the Covid-19 pandemic worsens or additional variants emerge.
White House announces plan ahead of July 4th celebrations
The announcement from the CDC comes just ahead of the Memorial Day and Fourth of July parade season.
President Joe Biden has said he hopes to see enough Americans vaccinated by Independence Day to safely hold outdoor gatherings.
The goal was to get 70 per cent of U.S. adults to receive at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and having 160 million adults fully vaccinated by July 4.
As of May 12, more than 151 million Americans age 18 and older, or 58.7 per cent of the U.S. adult population, have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Top photo via The White House |
Article | "I think this is a trust and bond that can't be built up with any other helper."When we talk about mothers, we often talk about biological mothers, who give birth to their children and raise them.But there are many mother figures in Singapore who don't share biological ties with the children they care for — our domestic helpers.In this article, we speak to a family who is so close to their helper, they see her as both a mother and grandmother. | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/domestic-helper-mother-co-parenting/ | mothership-sg | In the conversation about mothers, we often talk about biological mothers, who give birth to their children and raise them. But there are many mother figures in Singapore who don't share biological ties with the children they care for — our domestic helpers.
One such domestic helper is 61-year-old Perla De Luna Cuison, who lives with her 33-year-old employer Phoon Hui Leng and Phoon's two daughters.
Phoon's bond with her helper Cuison goes beyond the conventional employer-helper relationship, to the extent that she thinks of Cuison as a mother and a co-parent/grandmother to her daughters Dorelle and Chervil, who are 10 and 8 respectively.
Their relationship is unconventional and we couldn't help but wonder if Phoon feels threatened that her domestic helper is, in some ways, closer to her kids than she is.
To this, Phoon remarked, rhetorically:
“Like, would you say, eh why my kids so close with my mum? You won't, right?”
Growing up together, now parenting together
Originally hired by Phoon's parents more than 30 years ago, Cuison has been caring for Phoon since she was five years old.
The helper recalled with a chuckle that Phoon was very active as a kid, and would frequently run away from her.
But over the years, both Cuison and Phoon developed a close bond, very much like that between a mother and a daughter.
Even today, Cuison would make sure that Phoon has eggs to eat in the morning and doesn't let her leave the house without a big water bottle to keep her hydrated through the day.
When Phoon was pregnant with her first child, she knew that she would need help and requested Cuison to move in with her.
Being a working mum, Phoon said that Cuison gives her "peace of mind" when it comes to her kids' supervision. Both share the responsibility of parenting Dorelle and Chervil.
It goes without saying that there's a lot of trust between them, and because of this, Cuison plays a bigger part in the girls' upbringing than most domestic helpers.
From school work to doctors' appointments, Cuison works with Phoon to make sure that the girls are well taken care of. If the girls are sick, Cuison would bring them to the doctor, says Phoon. Cuison even talks to the girls' teachers about their school work.
The family seemed very close. The girls constantly held on to both ladies' arms during our chat with them.
Dorelle eventually settled on Cuison's lap and stayed with us throughout the session. When asked what she loves about her nanang (Tagalog for "mother"), she said shyly,
"She always take care of me, she always hug me."
The duo take on different parental roles at home
The two have designated parental roles in their family.
Phoon described herself as the disciplinarian, focusing on her kids' character development. She stressed that the girls must have a good attitude in everything that they do, ranging from giving their all in school to not talking back to Cuison.
Cuison, on the other hand, is more indulgent, very much like a doting grandmother.
In fact, she is an actual grandmother to three grandchildren in the Philippines, who are around the same age as Dorelle and Chervil.
She dotes on her brood in the Philippines as much as she dotes on her "Singapore granddaughters".
Each time she goes back to the Philippines, she would keep in touch with Phoon and her daughters over a video call, and even brings back a luggage full of clothes and souvenirs for them.
And just like a grandmother, Cuison used to nag at Phoon, who works irregular hours, to spend more time with the girls.
If Phoon were to say "no phones for two weeks," Cuison would agree but eventually give in to the girls when their mother isn't home. Dorelle chuckled and said that this was their secret, to which Phoon rolled her eyes and laughed, "There are no secrets in this house!"
It's heartwarming to see that instead of getting upset with Cuison for not following through, she understands that Cuison does it out of love.
Their different approaches to taking care of the girls have created some tension in the past however, Phoon admitted.
When the girls were much younger, Phoon told Cuison that she needed to be stricter on the girls so that they won't be too pampered.
Although Cuison understands that she cannot spoil the girls, the idea of disciplining them makes her tear up, as she loves the girls too much to do so. Now, whenever Phoon needs to scold the girls, Cuison goes into the other room to avoid seeing it.
Both women have been living together for so long that they even know what makes each other tick.
"When she is unhappy, she won't talk lah," Phoon said
Having known Cuison for so many years, Phoon has learnt that Cuison expresses her anger by remaining silent — a tell-tale sign for her to leave her helper alone.
While some employers might frown upon their domestic helpers expressing anger in front of them, Phoon shrugged it off, pointing out that anger is a natural emotion, adding that domestic helpers are humans too.
Close bond is a natural result of spending time together
When asked why she continued to stay with the family, Cuison said, "They're very good to me. Treat me as a family [member] also."
Phoon is something of a rarity. As an employer, she does not keep her domestic helper at arms length. As a mother, she encourages her daughters to develop a close relationship with Cuison.
It is a natural result of spending lots of time together after all, Phoon said, adding that Cuison invests in taking care of the girls and showering them with love, so she has the right to enjoy that bond:
"There shouldn't be any jealousy involved."
Family made long-term plans for Cuison to stay
Cuison has become such an invaluable part of the family that Phoon appealed to the Ministry of Manpower to extend Cuison's permit when she reached 60, the maximum age for a foreign domestic worker in Singapore.
The ministry accepted the appeal and now Cuison can stay in Singapore as a foreign domestic worker until she is 80.
Phoon's appeal was largely for sentimental reasons. The family can't bear to part with Cuison, but she is getting old and can't work as fast as before. Cuison also suffers from high blood pressure.
And so Phoon shared that she intends to get another helper to assist Cuison in more strenuous tasks, and hopes that it will lessen the load for the helper as she gets older.
She also has ideas about getting a holiday home in the Philippines when Cuison eventually goes back, so that they can visit her often.
When asked how different her life would be without Cuison, Phoon said that she values the bond between them. While it's always possible for Phoon to work with another helper, the family's relationship with Cuison is one that cannot be easily replaced.
Phoon added:
"I think this is a trust and bond that can't be built up with any other helper."
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
Top images courtesy of Phoon and by Alfie Kwa. |
Article | The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore and the National Environment Agency (NEA) will work on developing an appropriate charging model for disposable carrier bags in supermarkets.Given the possibility that shoppers may need to start paying for plastic bags at local supermarkets, we spoke to several Singaporeans to find out what they think.#sustainability #supermarkets | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/plastic-bag-charge-supermarkets/ | mothership-sg | The Ministry of Sustainability & Environment (MSE) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) will work on developing an appropriate charging model for disposable carrier bags in supermarkets.
This was announced in Apr. 2021 in their response to a Citizens' Workgroup’s recommendations to tackle the excessive consumption of disposables.
They also clarified that key stakeholders will be consulted regarding the charging model, fee amount, timeline and potential impact, especially on low-income households.
Why is this important?
About 200,000 tonnes of waste discarded in Singapore in 2019 were disposables, comprising items such as carrier bags and takeaway containers.
That’s enough to fill up about 400 Olympic-size swimming pools.
This excessive use of disposables (yes, even those made of paper or degradable materials) has a significant impact on the environment during their production, transportation, and disposal, contributing to carbon emissions and waste generation.
In case it isn’t already clear: Our consumption of disposables is unsustainable.
In 2020, NEA convened a Citizens’ Workgroup to identify and discuss inclusive recommendations to tackle this issue.
The workgroup proposed several solutions under four broad categories of: Education and awareness, legislation, providing alternatives, and financial incentives.
Some suggestions include charging from the third plastic bag onwards at supermarkets and incentivising consumers to track their usage of disposables.
Would pay for a bag
Given the possibility that shoppers may need to start paying for plastic bags at local supermarkets, Mothership spoke to several Singaporeans to find out what they think.
Many that we spoke to, whose ages ranged from 20 to 58, mentioned that they would pay for plastic bags at supermarkets as they needed plastic bags at home to throw their trash.
They also said that they have paid for disposable bags when they were shopping, mostly because those outlets charged for disposable bags and they did not have a reusable bag on them. Besides, they added the charge was “not expensive”.
Nelson Chong, 31, added: “If I happen to bring a reusable bag[s], I will use it. But if I don't, I definitely will not buy fewer items to escape the charge.”
Charging from the third bag?
According to a 2018 Singapore Environment Council study, 51 per cent of shoppers take only two or fewer bags per supermarket visit. Hence, one of the workgroup’s recommendation is to start charging from the third bag onwards.
Abdul Matiin Bin Muhamad Hamim, 20, said this is “reasonable” as it will encourage people to get into the habit of bringing their bags during grocery shopping.
A 26-year-old, who wanted to be known as Zhi Hui, carries a reusable bag with her everywhere she goes. She said that charging for bags in general is a good way to encourage people to “think twice” before taking them.
However, not everyone was as supportive, citing major inconveniences such as not having sufficient reusable bags on them.
58-year-old Melissa Ong also pointed out another difficulty:
“If I'm shopping spontaneously, I may not be carrying reusable bags with me. [Even if I plan the trips], it is very difficult to find enough reusable bags of a decent size, or I have to bring along many smaller reusable bags. It’s just not feasible.”
Drawbacks of charging from the third bag: How about charging per transaction or per bag instead?
Some of the people we spoke to pointed out that people may try to game the system. For instance, Ong questioned:
“What if the person buys some items, gets two free bags for that transaction, and then comes back later or gets a family member to buy more items in order to get another two free bags?”
Another issue with charging from the third bag onward is that implementation will be more complex as compared to charging per transaction. This is why Ong prefers a flat-charge model:
“If the priority is to be green, you should charge (for the use of any bags)… it will encourage people to not take any bags if possible. Currently, when shopping at some supermarkets, it’s already like this (there’s already a flat-charge for bags) so I think people have somehow gotten used to this.”
Charging per transaction “is a good place to start”, said 26-year-old Zhi Hui, who thinks that it could be the first step in implementing charges for plastic bags. Once people get used to the idea of paying for these bags, she said that stores could progressively move towards charging for each bag, from the first bag onwards.
Others, like Chong, however, still felt that charging from the third bag is “better” because this gives shoppers “some leeway to not pay for a bag if they are not buying many items”.
Will adapt to the circumstances somehow
Even though they could point out inconveniences in having to adapt to new ways of shopping, the Singaporeans we spoke to were willing to cut down on their usage.
58-year-old Ong, who wouldn’t consider herself “very environmentally conscious”, said this of her current consumption of disposables: “If possible, I will try to reduce my usage. But I won’t purposely go out of my way to do it.”
Others, however, were more willing to put in more effort into changing their behaviour.
“Convenience is something we take for granted,” Zhi Hui said. She added that imposing a charge on bags can also help to cultivate “environmentally-friendly habits”.
“Most of us use [disposable bags] because they are available. By imposing more charges, we can cultivate environmentally friendly habits (e.g. bringing reusable bags around) and change the norm.
Moreover, Zhi Hui also pointed out that Singaporeans are quite “compliant” and just need to get used to the new policies.
“Most of us will adapt to the circumstances,” she said.
Want to be part of this?
To co-deliver some of the recommendations arising from the Citizens' Workgroup on Reducing Excessive Consumption of Disposables, you can register your interest using this form, which will be available until May 31.
By registering your interest, you might be asked to give inputs, ideas and feedback on the content or policy.
Top photo credit: d3sign, Natalie Board/eEyeEm via Getty Images.
This sponsored article by NEA reminded the writer of the number of plastic bags she has accumulated at home. |
Article | In this exclusive interview, we catch up with former Cabinet minister Yaacob Ibrahim to find out what he’s been up to since retiring from two-plus decades of politics.We touch on things he never really said out loud before about being a Malay-Muslim MP and minister, and also find out why he continues to believe in the People's Action Party.#singapore #politics | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/yaacob-ibrahim-interview/ | mothership-sg | Professor Yaacob Ibrahim begins his days bright and early at 4:30am in prayer with the Quran.
These days, in fact, he structures his days around his prayer time — optional prayers at roughly 4:30am, morning prayers at about 5:45, post-lunchtime prayers, the 4:30pm evening prayer, plus of course the 7pm and 9-plus pm rounds before he turns in for the night by 10pm.
He counts the ability to do this as a luxury he certainly did not have just three years ago, when he was still a Cabinet minister — or even up to last July as a backbencher, when he sat out the Singapore General Election for the first time in 23 years.
The 65-year-old is one of Singapore's longest-serving Ministers-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, having held the position from 2002 to 2018 — one that for him carries particular significance, challenge and meaning.
On the day we meet him, he arrives at our office unaccompanied — no minders, no ministry staff hovering around, the chief reminder to me to avoid calling him "Minister" — and we sit down to chat about what he's been up to, look back on his life and take stock of the sacrifices he made and struggles he faced on the way.
The first thing we talk about is family.
Friendly competition
Despite his protestations and insistence on calling his family "average", Yaacob has to admit that he and his eight siblings are leading immensely accomplished lives.
We know that his oldest brother, Mohd Ismail Ibrahim, is Singapore's first Malay President's Scholar, clinching the award in 1968. His younger sister Zuraidah is a noted veteran journalist and editor now at the South China Morning Post, and another sister Hamidah is a State Court judge.
All in, the Ibrahim siblings consist of three lawyers, an engineer/academic-turned-(now retired) minister, a senior editor, a court judge, a teacher, a Monetary Authority of Singapore banker and finally a surgeon. Whew.
He jokes that Mohd Ismail took all the brilliance while the rest had to share the "remnants", but he believes that after his parents saw him constantly coming in first in class, they encouraged an atmosphere of friendly competition and so everyone worked hard to attain their respective best achievements.
Political watchers and general kaypohs (like me, I suppose) would also know that one of Yaacob's brothers-in-law happens to be journalism professor and public intellectual Cherian George, who is married to Zuraidah.
Which, when everyone was back in Singapore (George and Zuraidah are based in Hong Kong now), made for fun Sunday family dinners where "nothing is off the table", including politics. The prof admits to having "crossed some swords" with his brother-in-law on occasions, and dodged attempts at extracting insider information from his sister.
"All part and parcel of the conversation," he says with a smile.
Missed out on his own family
Which turns us to his own family — the one he started with his wife. Over the years, there were murmurings online about Yaacob's two children living and studying in the U.S., but he confirms they're back in Singapore now. Yes, his son, who is 26 this year, has served NS; his 24-year-old daughter works part-time here with the National Library.
We got round to talking about this when I asked him if his routine makes him happier these days, now he has a lot more time on his hands.
"Well, it is (happier these days). But it is also not. It is because you don't have all this exigencies of duty — night calls and all that. It is not because your kids are grown. Those years when they were growing, you were not there. Right? People forget that, you know, yes, I have more time, but your kids will say, why are you at home? They're so used to the fact that you were not at home, right. So I suppose there is a price to be paid. It would be remiss for me to say that it is a walk in the park. And then when you retire... no, your kids have grown, they have gone."
It's a sacrifice one makes when entering politics, Yaacob says quite matter-of-factly. No one can run away from it — but that was the reason it was so important that he got his wife's buy-in before saying yes to the call, first from then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (to whom he initially said no) and subsequently from then-minister Abdullah Tarmugi (when he was eventually ready to say yes).
His method of coping was to make it a point to be home for dinner with his family every day. That, followed by his evening prayers at home, and then he's back out for his MP duties at night.
He would also take advantage of morning drives to school to catch up with his children as they grew older, and additionally took at least one family trip overseas a year together.
Answering the call — and saying no to Goh Chok Tong
So why'd Yaacob say no the first time he was called for tea, back in 1990? He explains that the truth is, he didn't want to be parachuted into a place he had no idea about.
"So I got a call from the Istana. Goh Chok Tong just took over, and invited me to lunch with him. I was stunned! I remember being there at the lunch table — myself, Zainal (Abidin Rasheed) and at that time was PM Goh. After the lunch PM Goh said, here's a form. So I went back and thought about it, discussed with my wife and I wrote him a letter saying I'm not ready. Because I suppose you know, in one way, I believe that if you want to be an elected representative, you must know the community that you're representing, you must know what's going on. I've been away in the States for seven, eight years. I mean, at that time, there was no internet, you know, newspapers were very slow in coming, and you don't know what's going on. And to come back and plonk yourself here, and become this MP when I don't know what's going on? I felt it wasn't right, basically."
He would, of course, eventually dive headfirst into his Kolam Ayer ward, where he was sent to replace senior MP Zulkifli Mohammed, and would continue serving there for many years:
By this point, Yaacob had already joined MENDAKI as a volunteer (this being from its founding years), and also had a seat on the MUIS council. What he decided, in this regard, was that he must first understand the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore better, and read up on its history, challenges and issues that were of concern to them.
And it would eventually be this enhanced understanding and empathy Yaacob developed from embedding himself in the Malay-Muslim community that would push him to say yes to his second call, become a politician and later on a minister, to do everything he can to advance and uplift them as a whole.
"Anyone who joined the PAP was considered a traitor"
When I spoke to Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament Muhamad Faisal Manap back in 2018, one thing that struck me from our conversation was the burden he shouldered as Singapore's sole opposition Malay-Muslim MP.
My conversation with Yaacob helped me to realise that it wasn't much easier being on the side of the establishment, sadly.
He recalls the sentiment of distrust with the government several Malays had in the late 90s, when he first entered politics.
"There are some people who said, Why do you want to join them? You know, they have treated us badly, national service and so on and so forth, right... there's always this view that the party may not have been fair to the (Malay-Muslim) community. That is a backdrop that we cannot sweep under the carpet. So one of the biggest challenges any Malay MP faces now, and even during my time, is to build that trust within the community and the government. I took it upon myself as something that I wanted to do."
The great struggle of being Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs
And what did "badly" mean? Yaacob doesn't hold back — listing the widely-known but rarely discussed (out loud) phenomenon of young Malay-Muslim men enlisting for national service and then being assigned to the SCDF, or relegated to a vocation as a clerk instead of Officer Cadet School.
The latter scenario, incidentally, happened to him.
"I was the first in my family to go to full-time NS. But I was relegated to clerk service, you know, when we have aspirations to be army officers and so on. So I think I don't want to gloss over that. I still had residents coming to me, asking why does my son join the army and get thrown into the Civil Defence? Real questions. How do you answer those questions, you tell me? I myself experienced some of those things when I was doing my national service... This is something that you have to deal with, because this is your community... you are part of Singapore; how do you ensure that integration takes place, right? That was one of the things that was also on my mind when I came in because I knew there was also an expectation for me to make sure that I can protect the community and our community interests."
And if that's not enough, this is where the party he belongs to complicates matters a bit:
"Yet at the same time, I know that I'm not just a Malay MP, I'm also a national MP; how do we ensure that the national agenda is also adopted by the Malay community? And the community was divided, I have to tell you that... So this is something I think people need to recognise; I went through that. And also because I think you grow up recognising that these are some of the challenges that your community face and you cannot ignore it."
Yaacob recalls, in fact, that the year 1976 saw a group of Malay students who sought an audience with then-Minister for Defence Goh Keng Swee to ask why Malays were not called up for national service — which, Yaacob says, was a situation that impacted their employability.
And so the implications of this unspoken discrimination go beyond NS too, as most would be aware:
"You hear stories about Malays not getting a job because they are discriminated. Malays cannot go to the police force or the army because, you know, they're all dumped in civil defence. I got people in MENDAKI telling me this, you know. I don't want to brush this aside. It was a very painful exercise because you just, you know, wake up thinking, why is your community cast that way, right? And yet we have been loyal, we have contributed. It's an area that I want to see things improve."
Why Yaacob entered politics: to help uplift his community
Now all this being said, Yaacob certainly acknowledges that things have improved. Malay army officers are far more common these days — even his younger brothers had the opportunity of better vocations during their time — perhaps what the community is waiting to see next, he says, is a Malay naval officer or pilot.
While Yaacob recognises that Singapore has a Malay President (Halimah Yacob), he mentions the need for leadership representations in more sectors of the society.
"We were looking for Malay permanent secretaries, Malay directors, you know, because then you have a complete community."
And what is a complete community? Yaacob refers to an example his wife refers to in the Black community in America.
"Yes, they are overrepresented in (criminal activities).... But they have expressed the ability in other areas, basically. So that's something which I think we should be thinking about, you know, for, for the community and how we can move forward too. I mean, I'll be honest about it — I also joined politics to find a way to help my community. I will not deny that. I wouldn't want to put it crudely that Singapore doesn't need me because there are brilliant Chinese out there as ministers. But while I know I'm there as a minister to contribute to Singapore, at the same time, I must also do something for my community."
The added role Malay MPs have for their community
It is here that he, too, touches on the unique responsibility Malay MPs have on behalf of their community, by virtue of the positions they have been elected to.
"So whenever I meet young, aspiring MPs, I say don't forget, you have three constituencies — your Malay ground is very important. And if you cannot deal with the Malay ground, frankly speaking I say you are useless to the party. Because the Malay ground is a very important ground, it is part of the landscape — we are 15 per cent. And we must make sure that the 15 per cent don't feel that they are alienated, they are marginalised, that they don't have a place in Singapore. Right? So I saw that as something I wanted to do when I entered politics."
Has he succeeded?
But here's the big question — has he succeeded in making inroads into greater representation and equal treatment for the Malay-Muslim community in his 16 years as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs?
He explains that because of when he entered office (March 2002), in view of the air of suspicion around the Muslim community here continuing to hang heavy in the wake of the September 2001 terror attacks, his main focus in the early years was to make the Muslim community as much a part of Singapore as possible, instead of a distinct one by virtue of their religion.
"I mean, you know, we are distinct in some ways because of our certain beliefs, but we are also still Singaporean. So I wanted to continue to emphasise both for the Malay community to see themselves as Singaporean and for the other members of Singapore, to see the Malays as Singaporeans."
He notes that 9/11 was also an opportunity for him, and Muslim authorities here, to start learning to explain the tenets of the Islamic faith to non-believers — something that was never done before.
But indeed — Yaacob shares candidly with me that "history will have to judge" whether or not he succeeded in making progress with respect to Malay representation and equal opportunity in our military and other areas of our society.
"... the community will always say, you're not doing our bidding, you know, you're not pushing for us... There's so much that you can do, and try your best. I'd like to believe I have done my best, but I know that I have critics out there who feel that I failed them. And I have to live with it. It's a fact of life. I knew when I joined politics and eventually became a minister, that it was not going to be a walk in the park. But I'm a religious person, and I see this as an opportunity that God has thrown my way, for me to try and make use of the opportunity to the best of my ability too. Not just help the community, but to do the best you can to improve Singapore, right. That's what you are also there for."
Many matters and allegations of discrimination and deliberate elimination of Malays, especially in the military, are not provable and remain as anecdotal complaints, he notes.
While he has on many occasions made representations in many meetings involving the relevant parties over the years, echoing his aspiration for greater representation, what he ultimately says is "it wasn't easy".
"I was always looking for opportunities to get more Malay representation in these uniformed services. And, you know, how shall I put it? In a way, you can't force the issue. You hope it happens, you express those desires, candidly, in some of the meetings. Because I'd be honest, I don't believe that the Malays are less capable than the other communities and doing so is wrong. I stand from the belief that Malays are as capable as any other community to do the job. Give them the opportunity, and I think they will rise to the occasion."
An experienced leader with more to offer yet
It is this passion with which he speaks about what he set out to do to support Malay-Muslims, as well as other initiatives he spearheaded as an MP and minister, that gives one a feeling that he does not want to retire from public service yet.
Today, he is director at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)'s Community Leadership and Social Innovation Centre, as well as advisor to SIT's President.
In the former role, he raises funds from his vast network to support ground-up projects and initiatives harnessing design thinking from groups of engineering and design students whose teachers send them to the centre for service learning. These projects are done in partnership with specific external organisations to directly help their beneficiaries.
He says he cherishes the opportunity to bring his network and ministerial experience to work at SIT, an institution that is unique in its student make-up — 45 per cent of them are on social or financial assistance, and one out of every two graduates is the first in their family to graduate from a university.
Yaacob finds so much meaning from this as an engineer and academic that in the years before he bowed out of politics entirely, he found himself implementing short design thinking and tech-skills-based courses for his grassroots in the Kolam Ayer ward at their yearly overseas retreats.
At SIT, he also works closely with former Malay-Muslim MP Intan Azura Mokhtar at the centre, whom he says "does all the heavy lifting", while he goes out to find projects and also garner the funds needed for them.
So to the big question: Why stay on with the PAP?
So why stay on with the party after stepping down from its leadership — Yaacob last held the post of vice-chairman — and retiring from politics?
Yaacob says if he were to leave the party after stepping down, it would have made his presence in it "transactional".
"Should it be that I join it because it's convenient; when I'm out, I resign? No. I believe in the party. I think the party has done a lot of good for Singapore. I may disagree with some of the policies like anyone else. But by and large, I think it's a party that's worth supporting. So why should I want to resign?"
He explains also that despite not having a formal role in the party, as a member he is also consulted over various policy issues and matters, and participates in these discussions and feedback sessions actively. As a former minister who was part of the party's leadership, he also appreciates the opportunity to reach out to members of current leadership with his feedback or concerns directly, with the knowledge that his feedback will be heard.
"I think you have to hold true to what you believe, basically. But at the same time, you're part of the party. Unless the party is doing something that egregious that's a different matter, then you say, no, you have crossed my value system, then I have to do something about it. But I think the PAP is not doing that. And I hope we'll never do that. And you know, they are a party that is trying to be as progressive as possible, because you want to plan for the next phase of Singapore's development. I think that's the right thing to do."
And ultimately, perhaps, the conclusion of our conversation probably sheds the clearest light on why he's still sticking around and voicing his opinions:
"I retired from parliamentary politics, but I'm not retired from politics. I have a stake in the future of Singapore because of my children. Right? I mean, where else are they going to go — they are Singaporeans, they carry the red passport — if this country goes down, where can they go? So we have to make it succeed."
Top photo by Hor Teng Teng |
Article | "If Ashraf and I, who are not each other's flesh and blood, could love each other, why couldn't we love a child whom we are going to care for and raise as our own?"Nursyazanna Syaira Suhimi & Ashraf Alami were only a month into their marriage when Ashraf was diagnosed with a tumour in his brain.After some rigorous treatments, he eventually got better and won the battle.Unfortunately, it came at a cost.As the tumour was found at the part of the brain which controls one’s hormones, this also meant that it affected the couple’s fertility.After years of trying, they finally found their forever family by adopting a two-day-old baby boy.#familyandrelationships | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/singaporean-adoptive-mother/ | mothership-sg | When we met Nursyazanna Syaira Suhimi for coffee on an otherwise uneventful afternoon, we could tell that it was going to be a breeze talking to her.
With a parenting book in hand, Syaira entered the cafe and warmly greeted not just us, but the cafe workers who know her as a regular patron as well (which got us a plate of tater tots, on the house).
For those who are not familiar with 34-year-old Syaira, she is the co-owner and head baker of popular dessert shop Fluff Bakery.
Her husband, Ashraf Alami, is the other co-owner.
Together, the couple is raising two-year-old Noah Ashraf.
While she may seem like she’s got her life in order, her life hasn’t always been as charmed.
Diagnosed with tumour a month into marriage
You see, a month after the couple got married in 2012, Ashraf was diagnosed with a tumour in his brain.
After some rigorous treatments, he eventually got better and won the battle.
Unfortunately, it came at a cost.
As the tumour was found at the part of the brain which controls one’s hormones, this also meant that it affected the couple’s fertility.
While she was glad that her husband was given a clean bill of health, Syaira couldn’t help but feel sad occasionally, especially at a time when they were trying to start a family.
“It would be easy to say that I was happy that he’s ok. I was happy because, after the whole tumour thing, you see life from a new perspective. It really doesn’t matter as long as he’s still alive. But in that light, I was sad, and it comes and goes in waves. Sometimes, I just feel it more than on other days like when I got my period and we’ve been trying.”
Eager to start a family, Ashraf sought treatment that required him to go through injections five times a week solely in an attempt to produce sperm.
Alas, after a couple of years, the couple found out that the treatment was unsuccessful.
"Do I not deserve to be a mother?"
At that point, having her own bundle of joy seemed almost impossible.
“After two years, we went for a check-up and there were still zero sperms. We couldn’t even do in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and being Muslims, surrogacy isn’t an option,” Syaira said.
She recalled keeping a blue journal where she would pen her journey in trying to conceive, in hopes of gifting it to her future child.
However, at the cusp of abandoning all hope after numerous failed attempts at trying for a baby, she wrote one last heart-wrenching entry before chucking the book away for good:
“I don’t know if you are ever going to come true for me, and I don’t know if I’m ever going to be your mother so this is goodbye.”
She also sought solace in a group of friends who were also struggling to conceive:
“[On bad days], I would message my friends [who are going through the same thing] and ask why me? What the heck did I do? Do I not deserve to be a mother?”
At rock bottom, she was especially bitter and resentful towards her husband, even though it wasn't anybody's fault.
"He was the easy person to blame, right? I mean, it's common sense that it is not his fault. But as a human being, you just want to blame someone because it helps to get some pressure off your chest. For a long time, I resented him because I thought he didn't try hard enough, he wasn't open to trying hard enough or wasn't committed to the treatments. It was a bad time for our marriage."
Despite this rather dark period in their lives, they didn’t lose the determination to have a child. Even if it meant that the child wasn't going to be their own flesh and blood.
Considering adoption
In 2017, the couple seriously considered adoption after it was initially suggested by Syaira’s mother.
“At the start, my husband was quite nonchalant about it and just wanted to entertain [my thoughts]. But after a while, we spoke about it everyday and planted it into our heads, and he got [0n] the bandwagon as well.”
In an Instagram post from July 2019, Syaira penned: "If Ashraf and I, who are not each other's flesh and blood, could love each other, why couldn't we love a child whom we are going to care for and raise as our own?"
Eventually, after weeks of research and contemplation, they decided to adopt a child through the Ministry of Social and Family Services (MSF).
Long and thorough journey
Unlike adopting independently (where an adoptive parent would have already found a child to adopt) or adopting via a commercial adoption agency (typically, international adoptions can cost over S$20,000), the MSF route can take longer due to the thorough administrative and legal processes.
One of these steps includes a compulsory pre-adoption briefing (PAB), which Syaira was initially “very excited” to go to.
A PAB is a one-off 2.5-hour session conducted by accredited agencies appointed by MSF, where potential adoptive parents can:
Learn about the adoption process and whether one is eligible to adopt
Understand one’s rights and responsibilities as an adoptive parent
Understand the needs of an adoptive child
Find out where one can get support in their parenting journey
Yet, Syaira and her husband ended the briefing feeling disheartened, as it didn’t meet their expectations and they were trying very hard not to doze off in class.
She explained,
“I wanted to know more about the process, like where and when I should apply for it and what are the proper ways to go through, but I think more than half the class was telling you how to parent… But that [depends on] individual parenting styles, you cannot dictate how our parenting styles are going to be like.”
And then there’s the Home Study Report (HSR), which is a comprehensive investigation that helps the ministry to assess whether they are eligible and ready to adopt a child.
The HSR currently costs S$1,750 and is valid for two years for a single adoption.
Syaira remembered doing the HSR interview separately from her husband, where they were asked a variety of personal questions, including how she was parented, if there’s any history of drug abuse in the family, and what’s the state of their marriage.
And then there were the numerous character references and the multiple forms to fill and scan to submit via the MSF portal.
It took the couple slightly more than a month before they completed and passed their HSR.
While the process may seem draining for some, she thought that the HSR helped them to reassess their marriage and gave them the opportunity to really think about what kind of parents they wanted to become.
“It gave us the time and space to be more prepared, I would say, than normal couples. They asked really tough questions and we were forced to discuss it, there was no trying to hide or deal with it when it comes.”
After these processes were sorted, all they could do was wait.
A pleasant surprise
And it seems to be true when they say good things happen when you least expect it.
Syaira distinctly recalled that it was around 2pm in June 2019 when they were called to the social services organisation’s office, thinking that they had to tie some loose ends to complete the adoption application process.
Some answered questions and signed forms later, the social worker asked the question that would eventually change their lives forever: “We have a baby for discharge at 5pm today. Do you want to pick it up from the hospital?”
While Syaira — who had openly expressed her longing to be a mother for the longest time — was ready to say yes, it was a picture of the serene two-day-old newborn baby boy that sealed the deal for the couple.
But there was a little hiccup: They weren’t prepared for the baby at all.
Their house wasn’t baby proofed and they didn’t have anything for the baby, not even a bottle.
With only three hours till they had to go get the baby, the couple went to the nearest Mothercare outlet to purchase the essentials.
Luckily for them, they also received some hand-me-downs from their close friends and family.
Completing the family
With her husband and mother by her side and a car full of baby supplies, Syaira went down to the hospital to meet the baby.
They originally wanted a semi-open adoption, which meant that contact is exchanged between the birth family and the adoptive family but without any identifying information out of respect for everyone’s privacy.
However, the birth family requested a closed adoption where the records of the birth parents are kept confidential.
Taking the baby into her arms wasn’t like a beautiful and moving reunion between mother and child often depicted in Hallmark movies.
In fact, as she was so occupied with signing and receiving her forms, she didn’t have the time to be emotional, nor did she realise that she achieved a dream that she once considered unattainable: to be a mother to baby Noah, named after one of the prophets in Islam.
It was only when she was alone in the car, with Noah sleeping soundly in her arms, did she realise that they are now finally a family of three.
“My husband went out to get coffee and I was sitting in the car with the baby and I was just like… My god, it’s finally happening! It’s the quiet moments when we were alone with the baby that we had the time to process what just happened.”
Advice for potential adoptive parents
While her journey may seem smooth, Syaira recognised the commitment of raising a child.
If you've heard the idea that children can fill the void in any marriage or solve any marital problems, well, it is a notion that she disagrees with.
Instead, she believes it is imperative to “have a deep talk with your spouse about what it means to be parents and what you [both] want."
Unlike pregnancy that can sometimes be unplanned, adoption is a conscious choice that allows the couple to discuss beforehand if they are financially and emotionally ready for the commitment.
A tip she shared was to read up on the relevant topics as much as possible before making the decision to start the adoption journey.
She emphasised the importance of being financially ready, not just for raising the child, but also covering the costs of the pre-adoption procedures.
Milk kinship
An added challenge that Syaira faced was to induce lactation for her baby to foster milk kinship and become her mahram.
In Islam, a mahram is a member of one's family:
with whom marriage is prohibited;
from whom concealment of the body with hijab is not obligatory;
and with whom, if he is an adult male, she may be escorted during a journey.
For our benefit, Syaira patiently explained the implications of breastfeeding the adopted child in her religion.
The adoptive parent(s) and child are considered each other’s mahram, but this does not apply to extended family members such as the adoptive grandparents.
However, breastfeeding an adopted child a certain number of times before he turns two would allow him to become a "milk child", and thus be considered as mahram.
Hence, she chose to do this so that Noah can interact with the extended family with ease.
Induced lactation
The idea of breastfeeding an adopted child was not foreign to Syaira, whose Malaysian relative, a doctor, had breastfed her own adopted children.
Initially, she had planned to induce lactation, pump the milk and store it in the freezer prior to the baby’s arrival.
However, everything happened too quickly for her and it became “a last minute thing” that she had to organise with her doctor on the same day when her baby arrived.
Syaira was given two medications — a birth control pill and a hormone pill.
One is taken first to trick the body into believing it is pregnant, while the other is taken after a certain number of days to trick it into believing it has given birth.
In addition to the oral medications, Syaira was advised by her lactation nurse to pump every three hours in order to stimulate breastfeeding and encourage the production of breast milk.
To say it was time-consuming is an understatement.
On top of the high frequency of pumping, she also had to wash and sterilise the equipment and before she knew it, it was time for another pumping session.
As Syaira need not remain in confinement, she was out and about with her baby, which added to the inconvenience of adhering to the pumping schedule.
Groaning as she recalled the process, she said,
"When you pump, you can't do anything. You just have to be there, like a cow. When the baby cries, I have to call for my husband. You can't do a lot of things so it was very... troublesome."
She revealed that she only pumped four or five times a day and was surprised when the milk came through within a week.
After over a week of “pumping, medication and hormones,” Syaira was delighted to see the colostrum — something she once thought was impossible.
Colostrum is the nutrient-rich first form of milk typically produced immediately after giving birth.
Now, most breastfeeding mothers would wince at the thought of cracked nipples, breast engorgement, and the dreaded plugged milk ducts.
But Syaira considered herself to be “very lucky”. The ease of it surprised her as “it was [only] a bit painful” and she only experienced mild engorgement without any painful or serious side-effects.
While Syaira experienced milk letdown within a short period of time, it was in low supply.
Compared to the average 100ml of milk per side, her personal average was 12ml.
Nonetheless, with the encouragement of her supportive husband and a milk-hungry infant, she froze the milk bit by bit and she managed to complete the feeds after over two months to achieve her goal.
The big reveal
Syaira shared with us that she plans to tackle the adoption stigmas and microaggressions head-on and gradually educate Noah about his adoption history when he is young.
In her extensive research since she embarked on the adoption journey, the well-read mother has done a lot of research that predominantly advocates telling the child early.
This has been proven and reviewed by many experts on the matter, including a board-certified pediatric psychologist.
She learnt from her research that this practice can help the child to be “secure and confident” in their identity as an adopted child rather than develop negative feelings towards their adoption history.
Her first-hand experiences with people who grapple with identity crises upon finding out about their adoption history that causes them to question who they believed they were also further encouraged her to be upfront with Noah about his adoption at a young age.
“It’s about building that relationship with the child from young,” she said, referring to her and her spouse as Noah’s “forever family”.
Thus, she believes in “complete transparency”, and that it is easier to start young when Noah can ask questions.
Her plan includes gradually facilitating age-appropriate conversations with him about his adoption with various resources like books and movies to help him understand the concepts of adoption and family.
“I don't think I can be so selfish to keep him from [his birth family] or them from him if they want to be reunited,” Syaira said.
“I feel that everything should be decided by him... It's not about what I want. If he wants to meet them, I'll make an effort to reach out to them."
Parenting style
Among the various parenting styles, Syaira subscribes to the more “respectful, gentle” parenting style as she does not believe in hitting the child.
She candidly shared a challenge she faced when Noah was going through a "hitting" phase, which he demonstrated around family members and his cousins, but not at school.
Being the studious mother that she is, she turned to podcasts and parenting books for solutions, which advised against making it a big deal and stated that children at that age typically know how to be gentle and that the hitting stems from impulse.
But it was during a staycation where she witnessed a father handling a similar problem in a way that deeply inspired her.
According to Syaira, the man was having a chat with his two children who were walking beside him when one of them raised a hand and tried to hit the other. He simply caught the child’s hand mid-air to stop the behaviour without making a fuss and went on with their lives.
“That’s how I want to be, he’s so cool!” Syaira exclaimed, proceeding to say she hoped to become the “cool, calm, collected” parent who is “confident in what they do".
She did admit that it is easier said than done because many parents may find it instinctive to call the children out in an agitated manner in such situations, especially when a lot of us in Asian households were brought up that way.
"Parenting is actually unlearning yourself and what you have been taught to become the parent that you want to be, and regulating yourself is the most difficult thing you have to do as a parent."
Husband as a pillar of strength
When we asked her who her biggest pillar of strength was, Syaira named her husband without any hesitation.
It goes without saying that it takes a village to raise a child, but as a modern couple who lives on their own, Syaira and Ashraf are each other's main support system.
While the workload cannot be evenly split between the couple, they know that they depend on each other for support when the going gets tough.
She chuckled as she said, "My husband and I always say that parenting is basically one person losing it at a time so the baby doesn't die. You can't lose it together!"
Parenting is an ongoing journey
Despite the sheer amount of research Syaira has done prior to adopting Noah, the first-time mother remains humble and realistic when navigating parenthood.
She identified self-regulation as the biggest challenge for her since the start of her parenting journey.
Flaring up at your child is an easy way to express your displeasure, but can cause negative emotions between parent and child, resulting in adverse effects on the child in the long run.
“If we as grown adults cannot regulate our own emotions, what makes you think a toddler who is two years old can do it?” Syaira remarked.
However, she acknowledged that it is tough to perpetually keep one’s temper in check and still figure out proper ways to appease the crying child, especially after a long day at work.
Nonetheless, Syaira remains uncertain if she is parenting the right way and noted that it is difficult to tell until Noah becomes much older.
But as we saw her gush, describing her beloved Noah as a cheeky, bubbly and social butterfly (a trait that he probably inherited from her), we're almost certain that she's on the right path.
“[Motherhood] has not turned out exactly how I expected but it is seriously the best thing... that has ever happened to me... It’s so much harder than I thought it would be but it’s so much more gratifying as well.”
Top image courtesy of Nursyazanna Syaira Suhimi. |
Article | In 2015, Anna Lam Kar Yee first got the idea to work on edible cutlery when she came across an Indian company called Bakeys, which was seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter.According to the now 31-year-old, she “was fascinated by the concept.”After seeing how much single-use plastic waste that people, including herself, inevitably generated from all the takeaways during the Circuit Breaker, Lam was determined to do something.She decided to quit her full-time job at Mars Food Inc to start Crunch Cutlery, a company that produces edible cutlery, with two other like-minded Singaporeans, Sean Neo and Ezra C.Now, Lam is one of the female game changers in the sustainability scene who’s receiving support from HSBC.#sustainability #climatechange #food | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/crunch-cutlery-hsbc-golf/ | mothership-sg | Many Singaporeans probably recall experimenting a lot at home during Circuit Breaker last year, be it with some crafts or cooking.
Like many of us, 31-year-old Singaporean Anna Lam found herself experimenting with a simple recipe for hardtack — a type of biscuit that’s more lasting than the usual ones we eat.
Some hardtacks can even last for years, and can be staples for travellers on long sea voyages.
Nope, Lam is not preparing for a long getaway in a post-Covid-19 world, but an entrepreneurial journey that set sail from those little kitchen experiments.
And now, Lam is one of the female game changers in the sustainability scene who’s receiving support from HSBC.
Edible cutlery to replace disposables
In an email interview with Mothership, Lam shared that she got the idea to work on edible cutlery in 2015, when she came across an Indian company called Bakeys, which was seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter.
“I was fascinated by the concept,” Lam said.
After seeing how much single-use plastic waste that people, including herself, inevitably generated from all the takeaways during Circuit Breaker, Lam was determined to do something.
“Another key motivator was the single-use plastic waste I personally accumulated during the circuit breaker from takeaways and food delivery. I found it hard to stick to reusable cutlery because of the added inconvenience. That was when I realised that the inconvenience pain point had to be solved to make an impact on single-use plastic consumption in Singapore.”
Lam then quit her full-time job at Mars Food Inc to start Crunch Cutlery, a company that produces edible cutlery, with two other like-minded Singaporeans, Sean Neo and Ezra Chan.
Six flavours and very nutritious
Convincing people to stop using single-use plastic waste is, unsurprisingly, tough because it’s just so convenient to just “use and throw”.
To make a compelling case for more Singaporeans to choose edible cutlery over plastic cutlery, the trio set out to create an exciting gourmet experience for users by collaborating with scientists and engineers.
The trio has since developed six flavours of edible cutlery. They include both sweet and savoury flavours like strawberry, blue pea lychee, green tea, tomato, spicy and gluten-free buckwheat.
Depending on what you are eating, you can be sure to find the right edible spoon to go with. For example, a tomato-flavoured spoon can go well with a poke bowl.
And a bowl of acai would perhaps taste even better with blue pea lychee spoon.
Besides being tasty and sustainable, the edible cutlery from Crunch Cutlery is also nutritious, with ingredients that are high in fibre and vitamins, such as organic chia seeds.
While many F&B businesses took a hit from Covid-19 pandemic, the trio behind Crunch Cutlery still managed to get their products on the shelves of several eateries.
They also aim to make a “quantifiable reduction” to the number of plastic cutleries used in Singapore by 2022, and to expand to overseas markets in the near future.
An uphill battle
Give it some time, and hopefully more people will be aware of, and enjoy using edible cutlery, as it is still not widely adopted in Singapore.
Through events like "Swing for the Game Changers", a contest which coincided with the HSBC Women's World Championship, Lam had the opportunity to introduce Crunch Cutlery to the masses.
Lam revealed that raising awareness and encouraging people to use edible cutlery is the hardest part of this business venture:
“Educating customers about our product is challenging as we are fundamentally striving to redefine the dining experience for customers – to have cutlery as part of the meal experience rather than an accessory to a meal.”
That said, when asked if she’d ever felt like giving up and going back to the relative stability of a nine-to-five job, Lam’s reply was: “Thankfully not yet!”
She admitted, however, that starting a business in the sustainable space is an “uphill battle”.
“Sustainability in Singapore is a challenging field. Many are aware of it, but not many practice it. If you want to start a business in the sustainability space, you have to be mentally prepared for an uphill battle.”
Be aware and take action
What’s keeping Lam and her partners going in this “uphill battle” is constantly being reminded that our actions today determine how our future will be.
“Be aware that we are at an environmental tipping point. If you are part of the younger demographics, you will bear the brunt of environmental degradation over the coming decades. Keeping this in mind will hopefully spark and sustain your efforts to be more personally environmentally friendly,” Lam shared.
Lam added that starting Crunch Cutlery is her personal commitment to the cause and that she hopes to encourage more people to gradually adopt a more sustainable lifestyle by starting small.
Most importantly, the lifestyle tweaks that one chooses to make have to be sustainable (pun intended).
Lam said:
“Start small with quantifiable changes that you can sustain, [for example], if water bottles are too heavy, consider keeping a small foldable cup in your bag instead of buying bottled water.”
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Anna Lam is one of the three HSBC Women’s World Championship Game Changers who are passionate about sustainability and driving positive change on this front.
You can find out more about Crunch Cutlery and other sustainability champions here.
This sponsored article is brought to you by HSBC which champions women Game Changers in the HSBC Women’s World Championship and in businesses tackling the environmental challenges we face today. Top photos courtesy of Crunch Cutlery. |
Article | Singaporeans will soon be able to renew their passports for 10 years at a time, instead of the current five.The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on May 7 that Singapore Citizens aged 16 and above who submit a passport application from Oct. 1 will get new passports that are valid for 10 years.According to ICA, there will be no change to the passport application fee, which will remain at S$70.Applications can also continue to be made online, via ICA's e-Service. | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/singapore-passport-renewal-10-years/ | mothership-sg | Singaporeans will soon be able to renew their passports for 10 years at a time, instead of the current five.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on May 7 that Singapore Citizens aged 16 and above who submit a passport application from Oct. 1 will get new passports that are valid for 10 years.
"This will reduce the frequency of passport renewals, and offer greater convenience to Singaporeans," said ICA.
Passport application fee unchanged at S$70
There will be no change to the passport application fee, which will remain at $70, ICA said.
Applications can continue to be made online, via ICA's e-Service.
ICA said that applicants with no access to the Internet may visit the Citizen Connect Centres (CCCs) located at Our Tampines Hub and selected Community Centres/Clubs islandwide, where they can have free access to Internet-enabled computing devices.
Those who are unable to transact online and do not have someone who can help them, may visit ICA for assistance.
Validity for those under 16 remains at five years
Meanwhile, the validity period of the passport issued to children below 16 years old will remain at five years.
ICA said that this is because children’s facial features change more rapidly.
Thus, renewing their passport every five years will allow the photograph in their passport to be updated more frequently, which will minimise identification problems when going through immigration.
Biometric passport technology has stabilised
In its statement, ICA said that 15 years have passed since the biometric passport was introduced, and that biometrics screening technology has become widespread.
ICA said that biometric passport technology has stabilised, and that it has "greater confidence in the durability of the passport microchip".
These developments led ICA to assess that it is viable to increase the validity of the Singapore passport to 10 years without compromising security or global confidence in the Singapore passport.
It also highlighted the fact that other countries that previously issued five-year passports have moved to a 10-year passport.
Top image by Nigel Chua |
Article | Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong confirmed that for now, there will be no extension to the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) that began on May 16 and is scheduled to last until June 13.Nor will P2HA be "upgraded" to a full Circuit Breaker. PM Lee stated that the existing measures have succeeded in bringing down the number of cases.He also urged Singaporeans to keep up the good work, work from home if possible, go out only if it's important, and to see a doctor immediately if one feels unwell, even those already vaccinated. | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/pm-lee-phase-2-heightened-alert-update/ | mothership-sg | Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong confirmed that for now, there will be no extension to the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) that began on May 16 and is scheduled to last until June 13.
Nor will P2HA be "upgraded" to a full Circuit Breaker. PM Lee stated that the existing measures have succeeded in bringing down the number of cases.
Addressing the nation in a live speech on May 31, PM Lee said:
"Because of your support, the number of daily cases has come down. Barring another super-spreader or big cluster, we should be on track to bring this outbreak under control. We will know for sure in another week or so."
He urged Singaporeans to keep up the good work, work from home if possible, go out only if it's important, and to see a doctor immediately if one feels unwell, even those already vaccinated. He added:
"If our situation continues to improve, and the number of community cases falls further, we should be able to relax the restrictions after the 13th of June."
Beef up Singapore's Covid-19 containment efforts
But that doesn't mean Singapore is going to rest on its laurels.
PM Lee also announced further steps taken to beef up the Covid-19 response and ensure that the newer, more infectious variants can be contained. Singapore's testing, tracing and vaccination processes will be augmented.
Testing
Fast testing is imperative to prevent the disease from spreading widely.
PM Lee announced that anyone visiting a GP or polyclinic with an acute respiratory infection will receive an Antigen Rapid Test (ART), as well as a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test.
While the ART is less sensitive than the PCR, it is also cheaper and easier to administer, with a faster response time.
People who test positive with the ART will be immediately isolated, and the PCR test will confirm the diagnosis later. This will help to reduce the chances of infection.
PM Lee also announced that DIY tests will be available for purchase at pharmacies, and with alternatives such as breathalyser tests, routine testing can be carried out at places like malls, offices and restaurants.
People whose occupations involve regular contact with others, such as fitness instructors, physiotherapists and teachers, could all be tested regularly.
The idea is to change the approach to testing, from those appearing ill to those who are visibly well.
Large-scale testing could also help to ensure that large-scale events, such as a concert or a wedding reception, can proceed.
PM Lee said, "therefore, you should expect routine, large-scale, fast and simple testing to be part of our new normal."
Tracing
Contact tracing will also be enhanced, helped by tools like TraceTogether and SafeEntry.
The immediate household members of a close contact of a Covid-19 case will also be ordered to isolate themselves immediately, without waiting to see if the first degree contact tests positive.
The more aggressive approach will help to prevent clusters from growing bigger.
Vaccination
PM Lee also announced the ramping up of Singapore's vaccination efforts, helped by the confirmation of faster vaccine deliveries over the next two months from suppliers.
So far, nearly 4 out of 10 residents have received at least a first dose of the vaccine.
Recently, the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) announced a shift in strategy, to prioritise first dose vaccinations.
In other words, the priority is to get as many shots in arms as fast as possible, instead of fully vaccinating a smaller segment of the population.
This approach provides the maximum number of people with good protection, instead of a good number of people with maximum protection, PM Lee said.
Students will be the next group slated for vaccination, with registrations open from June 1 onwards. Priority will be given to those taking their O-, N- and A-Level examinations, as well as special needs students.
After the students comes Singaporeans aged 39 and below, beginning around mid-June.
PM Lee said that everyone who wants a vaccine should be able to get their first shot by National Day (August 9).
To make the process even more convenient for the remaining elderly who have not booked their slot, PM Lee also announced that those above 60 can walk into any vaccination centre and get vaccinated on the spot.
Endemic
PM Lee said that while the global pandemic will one day subside, it may be that Covid-19 cannot be eradicated completely.
In that case, it will become endemic and circulate among small groups of people for years to come, and there may be small outbreaks among the population in Singapore.
The virus can be managed through vaccination and testing, and even though some will be infected from time to time, pre-pandemic events like religious services and entertainment with crowds can resume.
He urged Singaporeans to keep up their efforts for the next two weeks of P2HA, and thanked us for our cooperation and support.
Top image from MCI. |
Article | In November 2019, Yoo EunHye started Unnie K-Shop to bring quality skincare products from South Korea and teach local users how to use these products.The proof of quality is literally in her own skin.“We are real, ordinary people - we’re not models. We don't secretly go to aesthetic clinics and spend tens of thousands of dollars to improve our skin. Everything is actually [achieved] via our home care system which we share with our clients.”#entrepreneurship | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/unnie-k-shop-sponsored/ | mothership-sg | Yoo EunHye - a new mum in her mid-thirties - barely has any wrinkles or laugh lines, and boasts a youthful, glowing complexion.
My first instinct would have been to ask her for the brands of skincare products she was using, but that would be making a common “misstep”, one that most Singaporeans fall for - a misconception which Yoo seeks to address through Unnie K-Shop.
Started webshop to bring in high quality Korean skincare products
Yoo came to Singapore five years ago from South Korea.
When she started working as a professional beautician, many of her customers noticed her radiant skin and naturally started asking Yoo about her skincare routine.
Yoo was more than happy to share what she was doing.
However, she quickly came to realise that there was one obvious problem while making recommendations - the products that she was using weren't available in Singapore.
“I tried to find similar products in Singapore...or those from the same brand or have similar ingredients, but I couldn’t,” Yoo said.
Even the ones that were available in Singapore were “totally different” from what she was using.
The next best option was to then buy and ship products from South Korea, but she ran into another major roadblock: many Singaporeans aren’t able to get products from Korean skincare companies.
The reason?
Many of these brands only accept payment via a Korean bank account and they only deliver to local addresses.
She highlights that this is because the Korean local markets are already strong enough for them to be self-sufficient, whereas those who focus on an export business “are not suitable for use in my opinion”, Yoo says.
The beautician realised that she could help solve this problem, by setting up a business that would bring in good products that she’s using into Singapore.
Making use of her connections back home, she set up Unnie K-Shop together with her Singaporean husband Dave Sito and another co-investor, in November 2019.
Filling in a beauty gap in the Singapore scene
After being advised so by her co-investor, she decided to go into selling and demonstrating the use of the products on Facebook Live, as it was a way to reach out to a bigger audience without spending an exorbitant amount on marketing and social media ads.
Looking at the Facebook Live scene, she saw that Unnie K-Shop could help address a market gap: in comparison to South Korea, the Singaporean beauty scene was rather sparse.
“I realised that there are a lot of sellers using Facebook Live, but very few of them actually sell skincare...[In general]...there is also a huge information gap due to language differences and the culture...in Singapore we don’t have beauty channels where they talk about how to use [skincare] products on a daily basis, but in Korea , it’s like perfectly normal...that's how we realised that there is an opportunity to bring real good products and teach people how to use [them].”
In doing these Facebook Lives for Unnie K-Shop, Yoo had to cross several hurdles.
The first was the language barrier: speaking on live video is one thing, but doing so having to use a second language was a different ball game altogether for her.
As she had no formal training in English, the first few Facebook live videos saw her struggle to confidently demonstrate and explain how to use the skincare products.
She had to have Sito her husband, who would help translate and support her during the livestream, to develop confidence.
To her surprise, Yoo says that viewers have been very welcoming and accepting of her. After receiving plenty of positive comments, she developed the confidence to host these Facebook Lives alone.
“Despite my bad grammar and inadequate vocabulary, they understand me. Maybe they bought the products because they understand what I was trying to convey via my body language and the fact that I use the same products that I sell which led them to trust me.”
Pandemic pains and surprising growth
Surprisingly, it was the Covid-19 pandemic that brought them both the most substantial growth in their business.
While the average number of viewers for their live shows have remained steady, they started experiencing high volume of customer enquiries over the last year.
Initially, they started by opening sales only during the live sessions, but one particularly great outing led to Yoo’s team having to spend three full days to answer all messages.
In order to efficiently manage the increase in sales, they built a website to assist them with taking orders.
Unfortunately, they ended up crashing the site within minutes during yet another product launch, the Oxytical Vial 3.98, which have sold out four batches at the time of writing.
Yoo recounts how she had to conduct an emergency Facebook live session to hold half of her customers from ordering first, while another half of her customers went into the website to input their orders.
Some even decided to only go into the website in the wee hours of the night to secure their orders.
Eventually, Yoo had to move Unnie K-Shop to Shopify’s platform to better manage the overwhelming demand.
Importing the products from Korea also became another pain point.
Previously, all their products were sent via air freight, and this caused not one, but three whole merchandise batches getting stuck at South Korea’s Incheon Airport with no clarity on delivery dates during the initial lockdown in South Korea.
Debating between refunding her customers or trying to get the products to them, Yoo decided to sink more money into a fourth shipment, which was equivalent to the size of the previous three shipments that were stuck.
This fourth shipment was covered by a shipping company that shipped the products over using their own planes. It was more expensive, but it was able cover all of the stocks that were being owed from pre-orders.
Eventually, all shipments came.
They’ve quickly moved to include multiple shipping agents and also sea-freight, and things have been more stable in procuring supplies and handling orders ever since.
Overcoming those obstacles, they grew from a very small venture - a humble Facebook live-selling model, to a website hosting a wide selection of curated skincare products from Korea. Product demos are still conducted weekly on Facebook live.
From a small part of her husband’s study, to filling up an entire living room, and then moving to a bigger house. Yoo says they are considering renting a warehouse for their products as well.
Ultimately, they want what works for you
Yoo stresses that Unnie K-Shop isn’t just another skincare product seller you can find on an e-commerce platform; she emphasises that instead of just selling products, she curates their skincare collection.
In fact, for every hundred products reviewed, she says only 10 of them are given her stamp of approval, and made available for sale on their shop.
“We are real, ordinary people - we’re not models. We don't secretly go to aesthetic clinics and spend tens of thousands of dollars to improve our skin. Everything is actually [achieved] via our homecare system which we share with our clients. We demonstrate the products live so that our clients can learn to do the same and ask questions.”
Customers can get advice from her via the shop’s Facebook page,where she checks with them the products they are using, what ingredients are in their skincare product, and work out why their current products might not work with them.
This might be the defining difference about what she does.
In fact, Yoo’s student had said that she much preferred Unnie K-Shop compared to a certain famous Korean skincare seller which was “too big”.
“We were very confused. What do you mean that because they're too big, that's why they're not good? [They explained that] because when they want to buy something, they don't know what to buy. It's like you go into a large scale candy shop, and then there are like 50 different candies, you don't know what is good, what matches your skin type, and the differences between the products. There's no recommendation, you're totally lost.”
On the other hand, Unnie K shop is extremely open to advising customers on what they should get, and even then only what they need.
A holistic skincare routine is more important than the brand of the product
Yoo highlighted that while many Singaporeans place a big emphasis on the brands, South Koreans are more focused on the ingredients used in skincare products and the habit of a proper skincare routine instead.
This, she highlights, could be the reason why many Singaporeans tend to follow brands, rather than seeking out products by ingredients that might help their skincare concerns.
She also points out that some also “expect one product to [solve] their problems”, when it is not a feasible expectation.
“Of course we do have products that specifically target a certain problem, but if you do not follow a holistic routine, it will not be effective, or [the effectiveness] will only be short term. Every skincare step serves a unique purpose.
In line with that philosophy, throughout the interview, Yoo didn’t emphasise or push one particular product or line of products, but instead, wanted to impart the importance of a holistic skincare routine, which is far more effective than using a particularly expensive product.
Their hopes, as such, were more centred on what they hope their customers could take away from their shop, rather than what they could buy.
“In Korea. Not every woman is as rich as the average Singaporean girl. So for most of them they don't actually go to aesthetic clinics. Most Korean women only use home skincare routines to maintain their skin conditions; even techniques like micro needling and using modelling mask packs can all be done easily at home. “What we hope to achieve is more for our customers that they, you know, can learn good techniques, they understand how to choose the product better. They learn more about ingredients and things like this. And we also want them to know that problem skin can be solved with home care solutions they have.
If you’re raring to change your skin for the better, drop by their Facebook page and Instagram page to find out how to begin - just drop them a private message for enquiries or a quick consultation, and do visit their website to see what kind of products are available for sale.
Exclusively for Mothership readers, new customers can get S$15 off their first purchase on the website, with a minimum order amount of S$150 with the promo code MS_UNNIE_15OFF. Promotion ends May 31, 2021. Terms and conditions apply.
This article is brought to you by Unnie K-Shop, who’s made this writer seriously look at the ingredients list of her skincare products.
Top image via Yoo EunHye |
Article | Young adults aged 39 years and younger will be vaccinated after students get their shots, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a live nationwide broadcast on Monday, May 31.Priority will be given to the graduating cohorts for 'O', 'N', and 'A' Levels, as well as special needs students, he elaborated. Other students aged 12 years and above will then have their turn, including students in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL).After the students get their shots, the final remaining group, young adults 39 years and younger, will be vaccinated, PM Lee said, adding that their turn will start around mid-June. | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/pm-lee-young-adults-vaccine-after-students/ | mothership-sg | Young adults aged 39 years and younger will be vaccinated after students get their shots, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a live nationwide broadcast on Monday, May 31.
Graduating cohorts to be prioritised
Currently, vaccination of those aged 40 to 44 is ongoing.
PM Lee announced that the next group to be vaccinated after the 40-44 age group will be students, adding that in the latest Covid-19 outbreak, there are more cases of students getting infected in schools and tuition centres.
"While the children were not seriously ill, parents are naturally worried," he said.
Therefore, the government will make use of the June holidays to vaccinate students, with registration to open the next day on June 1.
Priority will be given to the graduating cohorts for 'O', 'N', and 'A' Levels, as well as special needs students, he elaborated.
Other students aged 12 years and above will then have their turn, including students in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL).
Those aged 39 and below to get their jabs after
After the students get their shots, the final remaining group, young adults 39 years and younger, will be vaccinated, PM Lee said, adding that their turn will start around mid-June.
He further explained that as this is quite a large group, the government will be giving Singaporean citizens in the group a two-week priority window to book their appointments first, before they open up to the rest who want to be vaccinated.
Boost to vaccination programme with faster vaccine deliveries
PM Lee added that the authorities are vaccinating as many people as vaccine supplies allow.
He said while the country's 40 vaccination centres are running smoothly, they faced a constraint in vaccine supply, which explains why they have been "working very hard" to confirm and speed up deliveries of vaccines from their suppliers.
However, PM Lee added that the government has recently received further confirmation of faster vaccine deliveries over the next two months, which will allow a further boost to the nation's vaccination programme.
"We can offer the vaccine to everyone, even sooner than we expected," he said.
Related stories:
Top image adapted via Ministry of Communications and Information & Maverick Asio/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images |
Article | Here’s our resident contributor Abel Ang’s latest sharing on our #LessonsOnLeadership series — making a big change in terms of how we might currently think about our careers and how we prepare ourselves for our next moves. Read on: | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/career-advice-abel-ang/ | mothership-sg | COMMENTARY: "Manage your career as if you are a start-up."
Writing for Lessons on Leadership, a new series hoping to inspire the next generation of Singaporeans through the stories of Singapore’s many successful business leaders and entrepreneurs, our contributor Abel Ang shares his top career advice for young Singaporeans entering or who are in their early years in the workforce.
Abel Ang is the chief executive of a medical technology company and an adjunct associate professor at Nanyang Business School.
“Get a degree in a sunrise industry, the future is bright”: one of the worst pieces of career advice I ever received. Nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and fintech are some of the fads that have come and gone.
Such advice of the “future is bright” variety is usually given without much consideration to the interests, personality, and temperament of the recipient.
Is it any wonder that half of Singapore's new entrants to the workforce want jobs outside their fields of study? I suspect many of these followed well-meaning “sunrise industry” advice. And I apologise if you happen to fall into this category of people, but as far as I’m concerned, choosing to follow this type of advice is about as wise as drinking day-old bubble tea left on the kitchen counter.
By the time someone has graduated with a bachelor’s or post-graduate degree in a topic, the target sector may be in the doldrums, having fallen out of favour with investors and consumers.
Since we’re talking about career advice, my take is what constitutes good or bad career advice depends on the person receiving it. Good advice should be like a well-tailored shirt — it should fit the person for whom it is intended, and bring out the best in the person’s features, talents, and attributes.
Manage your career as if *you* are a start-up
When someone approaches me for career advice, my first response is usually to have them read the bestselling book The Start-up of You, co-authored by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Its core premise is that an individual should manage their career as if they are a startup, and that they should not wait until they have been fired before searching for the next job.
Hoffman describes the book as a “blueprint for thriving in your job and career in today’s challenging world of work,” where technology and globalisation are decimating traditional career paths and disrupting industries.
Since I am getting old, I have developed a method of cheat sheets to help me remember important lessons from books. My cheat sheet of takeaways from Hoffman’s book can be summarised in the acronym “SIGN” – an action I associate with landing a new job, given the myriad of employment, medical, and insurance documents that need to be executed before someone joins a new company.
And what does SIGN stand for? Skills, Invest, Grow and Network.
1) Skills
Specifically, keep arming yourself with useful and relevant skills in your field. Focus on skills that are aligned with your personality and talents, and which have value in the industry of your choice. The advice goes beyond a simplistic recommendation of an in-demand skill that will magically give you the job and career of your dreams. If you don’t already know this, you should absolutely keep learning, even after graduating from school, and prioritise jobs and skills that offer you the greatest learning potential.
In the same way that startup companies are obsessed with customer feedback for their product, the recommendation is that you should stay in touch with your respective sector to understand what skills will make you attractive and competitive in your chosen marketplace.
2) Invest in yourself.
The book recommends that you invest in and build a personal brand that is independent of the company you work for.
You could do this by building a presence online to share your professional achievements, and/or engage with industry-specific platforms to contribute articles, and/or conduct talks to raise your standing within the professional community you are part of.
Here’s one easy way to assess your personal brand value: Google yourself. In a world where lifetime employment in one company is no longer a given, personal brands come in handy when there are limited opportunities for career advancement at your current company, or when one is looking for a change of scene, pace or location. Having a personal brand energises and makes this change decidedly less stressful because your resume is always updated.
Other aspects of self-investment include
- setting aside a personal budget to pick up the skills that you want to develop, and
- buying coffee or meals with interesting people who can be of assistance in helping you achieve your career or learning goals.
3) Grow constantly.
Growing constantly means to keep your eyes constantly open to opportunities, and your mind curious about the industries around them.
In the same way that startup founders are looking for gaps in markets that they can provide solutions to, individuals that treat themselves like startups are always hunting for professional opportunities to grow themselves or their networks.
For a young person, this could take the form of attending industry-related events or volunteering in an industry association to expand one’s network and knowledge of the space they are in.
The book recommends that people live like their “life is in permanent beta”. This describes the mentality of a person in continuous growth mode. In the same way that a startup’s software goes through a beta phase to improve and meet the needs of the market better, the permanent beta concept indicates that the work of personal growth is never over.
4) Network.
According to the Hoffman: “The people you spend time with shape who you are and who you become… the fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.”
The lesson here is not about handing out your name cards outside the nearest MRT station, and hoping for the best. It recommends that people start with networks they have a connection with from school, university, or where you have worked previously. Feed and nurture the network, and it will pay dividends when you need it to.
An example of a great network is the PayPal mafia. The alumni of people who worked at PayPal have gone on to become founders and CEOs of companies like YouTube, Tesla, SpaceX, and Yelp. Each person in the collective continues to nurture their network and connections, by referring things to each other, sharing resources, and investing in one another’s companies.
Looking for employees that SIGN
As the CEO of a high-growth medical device company that employs 1,000 people around the world, I’ll tell you that I’m always on the lookout for talent that can help us enhance our growth. One of the things we look for in potential hires is evidence of “SIGN”.
We are not threatened when our colleagues take pride in their work and post their achievements on social media. I often celebrate with current and past colleagues, and am genuinely happy for them to celebrate their successes publicly, as long as company confidential information is not shared online.
We continue to nurture the alumni of people that have worked with us and are trying to build our own version of the PayPal mafia. We keep in touch with those who want to stay in contact, because it gives us an opportunity to journey with them as they seek to reach their full potential.
When people circle back to me after reading The Start-up of You, I often tell them that they need to discern their own paths. I ask them to avoid cliches, buzzwords and glib advice – and to seek authenticity and resonance with what they want in their own lives.
And so here’s my parting shot: Whether you are 21 or 60, you can still function like a start-up. It’s never too late to start becoming the entrepreneur of your own career.
Top photo via Anthony Young/Unsplash |
Article | From May 29, 2021 onwards, overseas S'pore citizens & PRs must test negative for Covid-19 before flying into S'pore.#covid #travel | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/overseas-spore-citizens-prs-pre-departure-covid-19-test/ | mothership-sg | All Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PR) who are overseas must present a negative Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction test result before they are allowed to depart for Singapore from May 29, 2021.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced this updated travel requirement on May 26, 2021, citing a worsening global situation, with emergence of new and potentially more infectious variants.
Previously, MOH did not require Singapore citizens and PRs who are overseas to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test before flying back to Singapore.
MOH said that it did not want to make it difficult for citizens and PRs to return home quickly, should they be caught unprepared by the rapidly deteriorating pandemic conditions abroad.
"We have put in place advisories on overseas travel for some time now, and SCs and PRs abroad would have had more time to manage the risks of Covid-19 in the countries that they are in."
This new travel requirement will kick in from May 29, 11:59pm.
Only those who have stayed in lower-risk countries or regions — namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Mainland China, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Macao — throughout the last 21 days before departure for Singapore are exempted from this requirement.
Those returning from lower-risk countries or regions will have to:
take a Covid-19 test upon arrival in lieu of a Stay Home Notice (SHN), or
serve a seven-day SHN at their place of residence, and take a Covid-19 test at the end of the SHN.
Travellers who arrive in Singapore without a valid negative test result may be denied entry into Singapore.
PRs and long-term pass holders who fail to comply with the new requirement may have their permit or pass cancelled.
The ministry added that Singaporeans who test positive for Covid-19 while overseas and require urgent medical care in Singapore can still return to Singapore via a medevac flight or other equivalent forms of conveyance.
MOH said that changes to border measures will be updated on the SafeTravel website. |
Article | Tracy Heah and Debbra Lee struggled with being new mothers when their kids were born.Apart from coping with the constant demands of their newborns, they also struggled with guilt – guilt over having thoughts of hurting their babies and not being as good as the mothers around them."It's important for people who are going through this to know that they're not alone," said Lee.#motherhood #mentalhealth #wellbeing | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/postnatal-depression-mothers-stories/ | mothership-sg | Tracy Heah remembers vividly the months spent tending to her son after he popped out of her.
The initial joy from birthing a healthy baby boy was cut short by despair — sheer despair at the incessant noise that came out of the little creature day and night.
Why won't you stop crying?
"You just don't know why it's crying or why it's upset, and nobody really understands how heightened that feeling is until you've had it," said the 44-year-old.
Once, driven nearly to the end of her tether, Heah contemplated hurling her baby against the bedroom wall.
It's a monstrous thought to entertain — more so if it concerns your own child — but it's real, it's overwhelming, and it can make a new mother feel so alone.
Debbra Lee, 50, felt exactly the same thing when she had her daughter.
She was a jumble of emotions — nervous, sad, frustrated — and because of that, she could not eat or sleep, subsisting mostly on caffeine. She lost a lot of weight as a result.
There were days when the stress and sleep deprivation nearly made her throw her baby girl out the window.
"I think that was the worst bit — feeling that I was just this awful person who didn't deserve what I had. How could I be so mean and so horrible?"
Being a new mother is difficult
Both ladies didn't know it then, but they were going through postnatal depression.
Affecting one in 10 new mothers, postnatal depression can be brought on by a variety — and often a combination — of reasons, such as a difficult labour, sleep deprivation, adjusting to being a new mother, and even difficulties with breastfeeding.
Take latching, for example. It can be long and tedious for some new mothers -- some take up to an hour.
Those who don't manage to do it right can end up with cracked and painful nipples.
And then there's the adjusting to a completely new schedule, which can make new mothers feel like they're living in a different time zone, complete with the jet-lagged daze.
It can feel like Groundhog Day, according to Heah:
"I was on this crazy routine of feeding for like an hour, and the baby will sleep for an hour, and then they'll be up again wanting to feed again, because they would fall asleep while breastfeeding... so all these little struggles that nobody tells you before you have the baby."
Being at your baby's beck and call
Part of the challenge of being a new mother is also the rude shock of going from independent career woman to "being at the beck and call of this little thing that needs you so much", said Lee who owns a bakery in Malaysia.
"If a man ever needed me that much, I'd be out the door!" she laughed.
For many women who are used to being in control of their career and solving problems at work, having a baby can throw that sense of control out the window, Lee mused.
You can bring your A-game to being a mother and do everything right, but your child might still end up screaming the house down. And of course, the baby can't tell you what else to do.
"I think that's what pushes us to the brink — we just can't solve that problem," said Heah.
A bundle of joy and lots of guilt
Both mothers said that going through postnatal depression was a very lonely affair, partly because the people around them — mothers included — were so dismissive of their struggles.
"It's OK lah, get over it."
"Very cute what your baby. It's OK lah."
"It'll pass."
The depression did pass, said Heah, but not before she struggled for months on end. Lee's depression, on the other hand, lasted for a year.
Another reason for their loneliness? Guilt.
Guilt for not being as loving as the mothers in their playgroups.
Guilt for not being able to hold it all together.
Guilt for even thinking of hurting their babies.
The truth is that many new mothers struggle. Their struggles may not be as severe as outright depression, but they struggle nonetheless.
"It's important for people who are going through this to know that they're not alone," said Lee, "and to know that it's a valid feeling, and to know that however you're dealing with it, it's okay."
"It will pass and if you need help, go and find help."
Seeking help, giving help
Nearly throwing her baby against the wall was a wake up call for Heah.
She called a counselling hotline and poured her heart out to a psychiatrist, twice a week, one hour each time.
Those hourly sessions were, in a sense, sacred, because they were hers alone, her time to focus on her own mental health, while her baby was safely ensconced in a relative's arms.
The psychiatrist would assign Heah some small activities, like putting on some make-up before heading to the supermarket, or writing little notes to her husband.
"So what she did was she made me drill down to what was it that I was feeling. So I would tell her things like, I feel fat, I feel ugly, I feel unloved. So it was just addressing each of those feelings, so if you felt, ugly, do something to make yourself prettier (in your own eyes), maybe it’s putting on some make up or dressing up. For me it was eyeliner."
Lee didn't need professional help but when she understood that she had went through a depressive episode, she resolved to help new mothers in whatever ways she can, sharing about her own experience, but more often than not, just lending them a listening ear.
Every one suffers from some mental stress every now and then
Underlying Lee and Heah's stories is the call for people to normalise having open conversations about mental health issues and their inherent struggles. Depression, anxiety, and even daily stress — these affect everyone at every stage of life.
"I think there's just so much pressure to be perfect all the time — and not just children or teenagers — everyone is under pressure," said Lee.
And so motivated by their personal experiences with postnatal depression, the ladies have started Depressed Cake Shop SG, the Singapore chapter of a global movement to encourage conversations about mental health issues.
The movement is centered around grey baked goods with a pop of colour. Grey symbolises depression, while the spot of colour, hope.
Members of the public are encouraged to join the movement by baking their own grey cakes.
If you can't bake, you can still participate by buying grey cakes from one of Depressed Cake Shop SG's vendors and host your own grey gathering or gift them to friends.
You can even attend a grey-themed yoga class for free, but donations are encouraged, of course.
You can also donate directly to Depressed Cake Shop SG here.
All proceeds from the F&B vendors who join the movement, as well as donations from the public, will go towards fulfilling Lee and Heah's goal of raising S$10,000 for the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH).
This will be the women's first Depressed Cake Shop SG activity, and they hope that people will embrace the movement and start opening up about their own personal struggles.
It will help, Lee said.
"When you [open up] to someone, it relieves you a little bit."
Stories from the City of Good is a series on ordinary Singaporeans giving their best for others and inspiring each other to become a Singapore that cares. This is a collaboration between Mothership and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre.
Top images via Tracy Heah and Debbra Lee. Other photos by Depressed Cake Shop SG. |
Article | Singapore Airlines (SIA) has raised around S$2 billion from completed sale-and-leaseback transactions involving 11 of its aircraft.The deals were arranged with four other parties, and involved seven Airbus SE A350-900s and four Boeing Co 787-10s.According to the CEO of SIA, Goh Choon Phong, “The additional liquidity from these sale-and-leaseback transactions reinforces our ability to navigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic from a position of strength."SIA further said that it will continue to "explore additional means to raise liquidity as necessary" in this period of high uncertainty, as the airline industry continues to navigate the "unprecedented challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic".#covid #aviation | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/sia-sale-leaseback-deals-2-billion/ | mothership-sg | Singapore Airlines (SIA) has raised around S$2 billion from completed sale-and-leaseback transactions involving 11 of its aircraft, according to a press release on May 3 by the airline.
The deals were arranged with four other parties, and involved seven Airbus SE A350-900s and four Boeing Co 787-10s.
The CEO of SIA, Goh Choon Phong, said:
“The additional liquidity from these sale-and-leaseback transactions reinforces our ability to navigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic from a position of strength."
SIA further said that it will continue to "explore additional means to raise liquidity as necessary" in this period of high uncertainty, as the airline industry continues to navigate the "unprecedented challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic".
SIA sees biggest drop in shares in two weeks amidst recent increase of Covid-19 cases
Separately, Bloomberg reported that SIA's shares dropped by about 3.2 per cent on the same day -- the most in about two weeks -- amidst the recent increase of Covid-19 cases.
Stock broker UOB Kay Hian Pte was quoted as saying that the new cases threatened the re-opening of Singapore's economy.
S$15.4 billion in liquidity has been raised since April 2020
The figure raised from the sale-and-leaseback transactions is part of a larger amount of S$15.4 billion in liquidity that has been raised since April 1 last year, the press release further stated.
This amount includes S$2.1 billion from secured financing, S$2 billion via the issuance of convertible bonds and notes, and over S$500 million from new credit lines and a short-term unsecured loan.
It also encompasses S$8.8 billion raised from a successful rights issue in June 2020.
According to The Business Times, S$7.1 billion out of this S$8.8 billion was spent by December 2020, on items such as operating expenses, ticket refunds and debt servicing.
SIA also said that it had access to more than S$2.1 million of undrawn credit lines and the option to raise up to S$6.2 billion in additional mandatory convertible bonds prior to its annual general meeting in July 2021.
Top image from SIA Facebook |
Article | Aside from touching on Covid-19 updates and short term measures in his speech, Prime Minister Lee also gave a brief idea of what he imagines will be the new normal:"In the new normal, Covid-19 will not dominate our lives.Our people will be mostly vaccinated, and possibly taking booster shots every year.We will get tested often, but it will be fast and easy. We will go to work or school, meet friends and family, participate in religious services, and enjoy entertainment and sports events.We will re-open our borders safely, visitors will again come to Singapore. Singaporeans will travel again to countries where the disease is well under control, especially if we have been vaccinated.And eventually we will even go about without masks again, at least outdoors.Right now, we are some ways off from this happy state, but we are heading in the right direction." | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/new-normal-singapore-lee-pm/ | mothership-sg | Aside from Covid-19 updates and short term measures, Prime Minister Lee touched on in his speech, he also gave a brief idea of what he imagines will be the new normal.
That phrase has of course been bandied around quite a bit, but PM Lee's reference to it tackled a hypothetical scenario, provided that Singapore meets some of the criteria he laid out.
He said he did not expect Covid-19 to disappear, but to become endemic, and "remain with humankind".
This means that the virus will continue to circulate in pockets of the global population for years to come.
Singapore, too, might see small Covid-19 outbreaks from time to time.
PM Lee said that this the new normal will involve learning to carry on with life even with the virus "in our midst".
He brought up the common flu and dengue, which he said is now managed through public health measures and personal precautions, as well as regular vaccinations for the flu.
He emphasised that while the vaccine might not entirely prevent infections, it makes becoming very ill less likely.
Borders
Another part of the new normal that PM Lee touched on was the issue of borders.
He pointed out that living with an endemic Covid-19 means Singapore cannot completely close borders.
Instead, Singapore must stay connected to the world, with "effective safeguards and border restrictions" to ensure safety.
PM Lee also said that Singapore will be not able to prevent some infected persons from slipping through from time to time.
However, he explained, if the population is mostly vaccinated, Singapore should be able to trace, isolate and treat cases before it becomes a severe outbreak.
Singapore’s priority, according to PM Lee, is to get through this pandemic and position itself strongly for the future.
He also spoke about how the countries which are disciplined and put in place sensible safeguards, will be able to re-open their economies, re-connect to the rest of the world, grow and prosper.
New normal
Rounding up his speech, Lee gave an idea as to what the new normal might be.
"In the new normal, Covid-19 will not dominate our lives. Our people will be mostly vaccinated, and possibly taking booster shots every year We will get tested often, but it will be fast and easy. We will go to work or school, meet friends and family, participate in religious services, and enjoy entertainment and sports events We will re-open our borders safely, visitors will again come to Singapore. Singaporeans will travel again to countries where the disease is well under control, especially if we have been vaccinated And eventually we will even go about without masks again, at least outdoors. Right now, we are some ways off from this happy state, but we are heading in the right direction."
Some ways off.
Image from Getty |
Article | The Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore has completed its review of Electric Road Pricing (ERP) rates from May 27 to June 27, 2021, both dates inclusive.Following the implementation of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures including full Home-Based Learning (HBL), LTA will be reducing the ERP rates across all gantries and time periods by S$1.A total of 13 half-hour timeslots will see ERP rated reduced to S$0.There will also be no charges on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and the Kallang - Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE).#transport #singapore | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/erp-rates-june-holidays/ | mothership-sg | The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed its review of Electric Road Pricing (ERP) rates for the June 2021 school holidays.
ERP rates reduced by S$1
Following into the implementation of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures including full Home-Based Learning (HBL), LTA will be reducing the ERP rates across all gantries and time periods by S$1.
A total of 13 half-hour timeslots will see ERP rated reduced to S$0.
There will also be no charges on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and the Kallang - Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE).
With effect from May 27
Here's a detailed table on the revised ERP rates:
The revised rates will apply from May 27 to June 27, 2021, both dates inclusive.
The rates will revert to pre-school holiday charges from June 28, 2021.
Top image from Wikipedia. |
Article | Fighting climate change may seem like a mammoth task for an individual.While it is true that this crisis does not have a quick solution, making small tweaks to our own consumption habits can go a long way.For example, did you know that you can buy kale grown in Singapore?More than 20 types of locally produced food can be found at all major supermarkets.By supporting local farmers, you are also doing your part to protect the environment.#environment #sustainability #localproduce | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/mse-buy-local-produce/ | mothership-sg | Fighting climate change may seem like a mammoth task for an individual.
While it is true that this crisis of our generation does not have a quick solution, making small tweaks to our own consumption habits can go a long way.
You’ve probably heard enough of saying no to straws and bringing reusable bags when shopping, or even eating less meat. But nope, I’m not talking about these which ask for fundamental shifts in our habits.
There’s actually a simpler change you can make to reduce our carbon footprint: Support local produce.
“Trace Mak Together” short film
As Hari Raya Puasa is around the corner, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) has created a short comedy film which you can watch with your friends and family over this festive season.
For the uninitiated, the light-hearted and informative film shows a variety of local produce as well as where and how you can find them.
The 4-minute film is a good conversation starter for those who wish to get other family members or friends to go green.
Here’s how support for our local farmers can also be an environmentally-friendly act.
Fresher produce and a lower carbon footprint
We can all work towards a more sustainable lifestyle and, understandably, the meatless lifestyle might not be for everyone. Hence, one way to effectively cut down on our personal carbon footprint is to buy produce grown in Singapore.
Local produce does not require freight services via planes or ships.
And guess what? The shorter transport time from farm to fork means the food is much fresher and can retain more of its nutritional content!
Compare overseas and local produce. Produce transported from overseas might not last as long and can be damaged on their way to Singapore.
Local produce will not face such problems — this means we can avoid food waste, due to spoilage, produced just from transport.
Not to forget, many of our local vegetables are grown in high-tech vertical farms that maximise output in limited spaces.
This is unlike traditional farms which have a significant carbon footprint due to land use change.
Some farms are even located at the most unexpected places, such as on the rooftops of HDB multi-storey car parks:
As these vegetables are grown locally, the quality and food safety are certainly assured by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
In recent years, local produce has become a really competitive alternative as they are now widely available online or at supermarkets.
Yup, you don’t have to travel all the way to an ulu Lim Chu Kang farm. You can shop for local produce even in the comfort of your living room. Hence, there is no excuse for not giving local farmers your support.
More local produce options at supermarkets
If you are someone like me who frequents supermarkets, you might notice quite a number of food items with this sticker on their packaging:
You can find them on local produce, including kale, which you would expect to arrive here from temperate-climate areas.
Besides vegetables, you can also find fish and eggs produced locally.
Here’s a quick look at the variety of local produce available at supermarkets that you might have missed during your last visit:
While Singapore imports a majority of our food, SFA is looking into boosting our local food production to cushion us from the impacts of climate change.
Covid-19, which has disrupted global supply chains, has also reminded us of the importance and urgency of enhancing our food resilience and security.
Therefore, SFA has been supporting our local farmers with funding and space, as well as leveraging on research and development, to grow our local agri-food industry. This is to ensure we have sufficient food to buffer any food supply disruptions.
While farmers in Singapore will help provide us with a buffer during bad times, they need our support during ordinary days to sustain or grow their businesses.
Furthermore, this will lead to a win-win situation as only with more support from Singaporeans that prices are more likely to become more affordable due to economies of scale.
If you are thinking of cooking up a feast or being tasked with grocery shopping over this festive season, do remember to keep a look out for the “SG Fresh Produce” logo.
You can watch the light-hearted and informative 4-minute film here:
go.gov.sg/tmtyt
Top image via MSE’s short film. The writer of this sponsored article by MSE loves grocery shopping. |
Article | Singapore will likely not embark on "further tightening" of prevailing measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, finance minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday, May 28.The current measures in place for the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) period have been working as the number of new community cases has stabilised, Wong added, saying there is no need for further tightening "in our overall posture" for now.A fuller update will be given at a press conference by the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 on Monday, May 31, Wong said. | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/phase-2-heightened-alert-lawrence-wong-no-tighten-rules/ | mothership-sg | Singapore will likely not embark on "further tightening" of prevailing measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, finance minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday, May 28.
The current measures in place for the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) period have been working as the number of new community cases has stabilised, Wong added, saying there is no need for further tightening "in our overall posture" for now.
A fuller update will be given at a press conference by the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 on Monday, May 31, Wong said.
He also called on Singaporeans to remain vigilant and play their part by minimising their activities and movement outside of their homes.
The minister, who is co-chair of the task force tackling Covid-19, said the number of community cases has "even declined slightly".
"I think if we continue to do that... then we have a very good chance of continuing to bring down the cases and keep the infections in check," he added.
He was speaking to the media during a virtual press conference to announce enhanced support measures for businesses hit badly by the tightened restrictions.
New S$800 million support package
These measures, costing S$800 million, include enhanced wage subsidies for affected sectors such as gyms, fitness studios, performing arts organisations and arts education centres.
"If there are further extensions of the restrictions beyond June 13, the ministry will also consider whether support measures can be similarly extended," Wong said. |
Article | Observers of financial and business news in Singapore might have noticed a trend in recent times — the world's wealthiest individuals are increasingly setting up shop on our tiny island.In the past few years, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, British inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson, as well as son of Haidilao founders Zhang Hanzhi have set up family offices and bought property here.We explore what's attracting them to our tiny island nation and if this a good or bad thing for Singaporeans.#MSExplains | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/ultra-rich-singapore-explainer/?fbclid=IwAR0Hqhblf0ZZAD0jlxqT1VDGq91P3v99uLMexl9WDtWEyyckhI4m3AX4tZg | mothership-sg | Observers of financial and business news in Singapore might have noticed a trend in recent times — the world's wealthiest individuals are increasingly setting up shop on our tiny island.
In the past few years, we've seen Google co-founder Sergey Brin, British inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson, and son of Haidilao founders Zhang Hanzhi setting up family offices, and buying property here.
What are "family offices"?
Family offices are described by Investopedia as being advisory firms that manage the finances or investments of an affluent individual or family.
In other words, if you're a rich person with lots of money that you want to preserve for your lifetime and the next few generations, you might set up one of these offices to help you do that.
In response to a parliamentary question on the topic, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said on Apr. 4, 2021 that about 400 family offices had been operating here since the end of 2020.
This is double the number given by Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in October 2020, just six months prior.
At the time, Tharman also cited research estimating that each family office typically managed assets in excess of US$100 million (S$132.77 million).
If that figure still holds true, the total assets managed by family offices in Singapore would be at least S$54.4 billion today.
So if we take the proliferation of family offices here as evidence of the the ultra rich parking their money in Singapore, the next question to ask would be: Why?
A safe place to operate
The most obvious reason why the ultra-rich are fond of Singapore is that it is a rather safe place for a wealthy person to park their money.
An indication of this is the fact that our country receives top marks for its sovereign credit rating.
In fact, Singapore is one of the few countries in the world to currently hold the highest possible score of an AAA rating from the three most influential agencies handing out these ratings — Moody's, Fitch, and Standard and Poor's.
Those looking to establish a family office might be interested in specific factors such as political and economic stability, as well as the strength and transparency of its legal system, which all count toward a stronger credit rating.
For example, if a country's government or judiciary is known to have high levels of corruption, a wealthy individual may choose not to operate there over concerns about how they may treated, should they be unable to get into the good books of those in power.
Or maybe a country's politics may be so unstable that there is a risk of the government collapsing into chaos, or even just changing its corporate tax policy, for example, after every election. This too would understandably be a turn off for someone looking for a location to headquarter their financial activities.
Yet, safety and stability can't be the only things making Singapore attractive to the rich.
After all, countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have also received AAA ratings across the board; Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia also rate highly.
So while safety and stability are basic requirements, something else is needed to really draw the money of the world's wealthiest to Singapore.
Here are a few of them:
Tax incentives
According to Deloitte, Singapore is known for having one of the most competitive tax regimes in the world.
Corporate tax here is levied at a flat rate of 17 per cent, while income tax comes in at 22 per cent for those in the highest bracket.
Compare that to tax rates in fellow AAA-rated country Sweden where corporate tax is about 20 per cent and income tax can be as high as 57 per cent, according to Investopedia.
Meanwhile in Singapore, Deloitte cites the absence of capital gains taxes and tax on foreign-sourced income in the hands of individuals — a rarity in the developed world — as being particularly attractive to ultra high net worth individuals.
Apart from the friendly taxation, a few other government policies have made it easier for rich persons to bring their wealth to Singapore.
This includes the Variable Capital Company (VCC) framework introduced in January 2020 and administered by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
Explaining how VCCs work is beyond the scope of this article, but in simple terms, Financier Worldwide wrote that it provides a new legal structure that provides a superior option to existing fund or collective investment scheme structures.
According to InCorp Asia, VCCs allow shareholders greater freedom and flexibility to enter and exit a fund through easy subscription and redemption of shares, increasing the efficiency of investment funds.
In even simpler terms, this just makes it easier for a wealthy person to manage their money.
To make things even more convenient for those looking to move their wealth here from other tax havens, MAS is covering some of the cost of setting up VCCs until 2023.
Another policy that has helped to draw the rich to our island nation has been the Global Investor Programme (GIP).
Under the GIP, an individual may apply for permanent residency here if they invest S$2.5 million or more in new or existing Singapore-registered companies, or GIP funds that invest in Singapore companies.
Once they've attained Permanent Resident status, their families may then enjoy Singapore's world-class education system as well as the other advantages and amenities our city has to offer.
Setting ourselves apart from the competition
We've established that Singapore is something of a tax haven with investor-friendly policies.
But ever the competitor, there are things that set us even further apart from the other tax havens out there like the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, or Hong Kong.
One is our status as a financial hub.
It means that the range of services needed by family offices, or individuals seeking to invest their wealth, are widely available in Singapore.
Accounting and advisory services company Crowe Singapore pointed to our strong eco-system and the "deep pool of talent such as asset managers, private bankers and legal and finance professionals".
Aside from having the infrastructure to support the financial activities of the world's millionaires and billionaires, Singapore benefits from being in Asia.
Writing for CNA, David Kuo — co-founder of investment education website The Smart Investor — highlighted that Asia has been touted as the next centre of global economic growth. Singapore therefore presents itself as an entry point for those looking to invest in the region.
How about Hong Kong? The special administrative region boasts some of these advantages that we've described already — it is a financial hub in Asia.
One popular point of view is that political instability in Hong Kong has turned many off.
Asian Investor quoted Steve Diggle, founder of Singapore-based multi-family office Taurus Investment Management, as saying in 2020 that wealthy families from mainland China seemed to be moving their money out of Hong Kong.
Likewise, Nikkei Asia Review spoke to a private banker of nearly two decades who said that "individuals in Hong Kong whose financial assets exceed $20 million had dispersed their assets in multiple overseas locations, including Singapore".
Good or bad for Singapore?
So how should we view this development in our nation?
On one hand, it can be argued that the rich coming here and investing their money should be seen as a good thing.
Theoretically, by bringing their money into Singapore, using our banking and financial services, and in some cases investing in our businesses, the ultra-rich are creating jobs for those of us with less.
Chan, in his parliamentary reply, said that family offices "generate indirect employment when they work with external finance, tax and legal professionals on wealth planning and operational matters" and expand the pool of capital for Singapore-based startups and business ventures, as well as the funds that invest in such companies.
Kuo, in his commentary, pointed out the "multiplier effect" family offices have on the economy.
"It is not unreasonable, for instance, for a S$100 million family fund to spend around S$1 million a year in expenses."
But others may point to the ongoing issue of inequality — brought to light especially by the Covid-19 pandemic — and wonder if pandering to the ultra-rich may have undesirable effects on society at large.
The topic of redistributing wealth was broached by Member of Parliament Foo Mee Har in February earlier this year.
In parliament, Foo pointed out that the trend of getting the wealthy to contribute more was "gaining traction globally".
"When you consider that selected entities or individuals may have enjoyed outsized windfalls because of Covid-19, it may not be unreasonable to expect that they do more for the common good," she said.
In reply, outgoing Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat acknowledged the pandemic's uneven effects on society.
"We will indeed continue to review our wealth taxes," he said.
Mothership Explains is a series where we dig deep into the important, interesting, and confusing going-ons in our world and try to, well, explain them.
This series aims to provide in-depth, easy-to-understand explanations to keep our readers up to date on not just what is going on in the world, but also the "why's".
Top image made from photos by Zhu Hongzhi and Jason Leung via Unsplash |
Article | From May 22 to 30, the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) is organising a collection to provide aid in the form of health, relief and social services for communities affected by the recent developments in Gaza.Within the first 12 hours, the campaign had surpassed S$800,000.One major donor was the Sheng Siong Group, who contributed S$200,000 to the sum.According to CEO Lim Hock Chee, “Sheng Siong has always strived to help the community. So, this sum of money is a way for us to give back and help the people in Palestine.” | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/sheng-siong-ceo-donates-s200000-towards-gaza/ | mothership-sg | From May 22 to 30, the Rahmatan Lil Alamin (Blessings to all) Foundation (RLAF) is organising a collection to provide aid in the form of health, relief and social services for communities affected by the recent developments in Gaza.
According to a press release by RLAF, the campaign has surpassed S$800,000 within the first 12 hours.
One major donor was the Sheng Siong Group, who contributed S$200,000 to the sum.
Sheng Siong Group donates S$200,000
Lim handed over the monetary contribution to CEO of RLAF Muhammad Faizal Othman in a cheque handover ceremony at Yusof Ishak Mosque.
The event was witnessed by Singapore's non-resident representative to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Hawazi Daipi, and Chief Executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) Esa Masood.
"Sheng Siong has always strived to help the community. So, this sum of money is a way for us to give back and help the people in Palestine," said Lim.
Online donations
The fundraising effort is done in collaboration with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The foundation said that Palestinian refugees are left to seek shelter at UNRWA schools and other places during the global Covid-19 pandemic with "limited access to water, food, sanitation, and health services".
Members of the public can make their online donations via various platforms, including PayNow, bank transfers, Giving.SG and Muslim.SG, with instructions on how to do so here.
Top image from Muhammad Faizal's Facebook page. |
Article | Singapore is approaching the end of the second week of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).The tightened measures were initially announced for a four-week period, though it was also said that their impact could only materialise "one to two weeks later". While the number of unlinked and community cases has indeed fallen since May 16, case numbers may not be the only factor in determining whether Phase 2 will be extended or not. #phase2HA #communitycases | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/will-phase-2-ha-extend/ | mothership-sg | Singapore's approaching the end of the second week of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).
The period of tightened measures was announced to last for four weeks, from Sunday, May 16, through to Sunday, June 13, 2021.
This means that we're about halfway through, with two more weeks to go till June 13.
There's another reason why this halfway point is significant: It's the point in time where the authorities are expecting numbers to come down.
The Multi-Ministry Taskforce co-chair Lawrence Wong said on May 18 that the impact of the tightened measures could only materialise "one to two weeks later, because of the time lag in these measures".
After all, Wong explained, some of the new cases were likely "seeded" one to two weeks ago, due to the incubation period of the virus.
How are we doing two weeks in?
Here are some indications of whether the tightened measures are working.
Are unlinked cases falling?
In Apr. 2020, two weeks into the Circuit Breaker, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that the number of unlinked cases had not fallen, indicating a "hidden reservoir" of cases in the undetected community.
Thus, PM Lee announced, the Circuit Breaker would be extended for a further four weeks.
This year, two weeks into Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), the number of unlinked cases has fallen.
Can unlinked cases be linked subsequently?
The number of unlinked cases is falling, but each unlinked case still requires extensive contact tracing work.
This is to identify close contacts, and to establish whether the unlinked case could potentially be linked to other cases and/ or clusters.
In turn, this allows the authorities to take appropriate measures to guard against further spread.
What is happening at JEM and Westgate shopping malls is an example of this.
MOH said on May 22 that it was investigating cases of Covid-19 infection amongst individuals who worked in the two adjacent malls.
The identification of JEM and Westgate as the site of potential ongoing transmission allowed the authorities to do more testing, and to close the two malls as a precautionary measure, till June 5.
A total of 60 cases have since been linked to the cluster, including six who were detected through testing operations for workers and visitors at JEM and Westgate, and eight who tested positive while in quarantine.
Are infections being ringfenced?
MOH's criteria for closing a Covid-19 cluster requires "no more cases linked to the cluster for the past two incubation periods (28 days)".
Prior to that, however, we can look for indications that potential Covid-19 outbreaks have been contained, or, "ringfenced".
A major cluster at the start of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) at TTSH saw hospital wards being locked down. There was also extensive testing of all staff, patients, and recent visitors to the hospital.
And in an unusual move, the public places visited by the cases linked to the cluster at TTSH during their likely infectious period were closed for cleaning for two days.
These measures can be said to have succeeded, with Health Minister Ong Ye Kung saying on May 22 that TTSH "is getting back on its feet", after resuming patient admissions from May 18 with nearly all previously-quarantined staff back at work, and no new cases for more than 14 days.
Similar actions — where locations are identified as the possible site of a potential outbreak, and large groups are pre-emptively tested — have also been taken at Changi Airport, at two HDB blocks in Hougang and Pasir Ris, as well as at JEM and Westgate.
Is activity being reduced?
Tightened measures such as the ban on dining in would definitely reduce activity overall.
However, the tightened measures might not have 100 per cent of the intended effects.
This is because some may choose ignore the rules, or try to find loopholes.
For example, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)'s inspections have already found breaches of the rule that companies cannot get employees who can WFH to work on-site.
The ministry has promised stricter enforcement against such companies, as well as confidentiality for whistle-blowers.
Thus, it is necessary to ensure that the tightened measures work as intended, through enforcement action and public education.
What comes next, after Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)?
Singapore's "performance" in the above-mentioned areas in the next two weeks will have some impact on what will happen next, after Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) comes to an end on June 13.
But, aside from the case numbers and the tightened restrictions, there are other developments to watch for in the next few weeks and months — such as Singapore's vaccination policy, as well as the overall global situation — which will also have an impact on what life in Singapore looks like after Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), and even beyond.
Vaccination policy
The government is also considering giving "as many people as possible" one dose of Covid-19 vaccine first, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on May 16.
Ong also said on May 16 that the government will be studying the severity of the disease among those who are vaccinated, or those who have been infected by vaccinated individuals, sharing that in the current outbreak, none of those who had at least one dose of the vaccine required intensive care.
Is it possible that the relaxation of certain measures will be made contingent on a certain percentage of the population getting at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine?
If so, this would be similar to how a 70 per cent take-up rate for the TraceTogether token was made a precondition for Singapore to enter Phase 3 in 2020.
After all, vaccinated individuals already receive certain "perks" such as not needing to go for pre-event testing (PET) before attending large events like concerts and weddings, in recognition of the reduced risk that they will contract or spread Covid-19.
Global situation and Covid-19 variants
As more becomes known about Covid-19, its existing variants, as well as potential future variants, Singaporeans may well have to expect the unexpected.
Even assuming the numbers do fall sharply in the next few weeks, those hoping to simply return to the previous states in Phase 3 (Heightened Alert), Phase 3, or even Phase 2 might be disappointed.
"All the precautions we are used to, in fact, may not be sufficient to safeguard against the spread of the virus," said Wong on May 18, explaining the need for tightened measures under Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).
He cited "growing evidence" that the new Covid-19 variants can spread through aerosolised particles as the reason for this.
The authorities have since issued guidelines on ventilating both air-conditioned and naturally ventilated spaces.
Thus, it may be the case that some restrictions from Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) — such as the banning of indoor “mask-off” activities, dining in, and indoor exercise — may not be so easily relaxed.
And the authorities will impose a new requirement for Singapore citizens and permanent residents wanting to return to Singapore, in view of the worsening global situation, with emergence of new and potentially more infectious variants.
From May 29, those coming into Singapore must test negative before they are allowed to depart.
Whether even stricter measures than these will be needed to combat future mutations of Covid-19 is something only time will tell.
Top image by Syahindah Ishak & Lean Jinghui |
Article | This year, 1.4 million Singaporeans will be receiving their GSTV – Cash Special Payment and GSTV – Cash and MediSave from June and July respectively.The GSTV – Cash Special Payment and GSTV – U-Save Special Payment are part of the S$900 million Household Support Package announced at Budget 2021, to provide additional support to families during this period of uncertainty. | https://mothership.sg/2021/06/gst-voucher-2021/ | mothership-sg | This year, 1.4 million Singaporeans will be receiving their GSTV – Cash Special Payment and GSTV – Cash and MediSave from June and July respectively.
Of these 1.4million, nine in 10 eligible citizens will also receive their GSTV payouts automatically.
Details on the payouts
A Ministry of Finance press release stated that the GSTV – Cash Special Payment and GSTV – U-Save Special Payment are part of the S$900 million Household Support Package announced at Budget 2021, to provide additional support to families during this period of uncertainty. Lower- to middle-income families will receive more.
More details here:
GST Voucher cash payment
The GSTV – Cash Special Payment of S$200 will be credited directly into citizens’ bank accounts from June 23.
Those who do not have a PayNow-NRIC-linked bank account but have provided their bank account number to the Government previously, will receive their payouts via bank transfer on June 30.
The rest will receive cheques sent to their address registered on their NRICs, from July 15.
From July to August, cash of up to S$300 will be credited directly into citizens’ bank accounts from 30 July (Fri).
U-Save
Households living in 1- and 2-room HDB flats typically receive GST Voucher (GSTV) – U-Save rebates amounting to an average of about three to four months of their utility bills. Households living in 3- and 4-room HDB flats typically receive benefits amounting to one to two months of their utility bills.
About 950,000 Singaporean households living in HDB flats will be receiving their quarterly GSTV – U-Save rebates, as well as the GSTV – U-Save Special Payment this July.
They will receive an additional 50 percent of their regular GSTV – U-Save in FY2021, through a one-off GSTV – U-Save Special Payment in April and July 2021. The total amount of rebates to be received in FY2021 ranges from S$355 to S$595, depending on the HDB flat type.
MediSave
Additionally, about 575,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above in 2021 will also receive a top-up to their CPF MediSave Accounts of up to S$450 each from July 30.
You can get more info here.
Top photo via Getty Images, Wikipedia. |
Article | The six-station Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stage two is getting ready to be open to commuters in the third quarter of 2021.This comes about a year after it was initially scheduled to open.Some 100,000 households in Springleaf, Lentor, Mayflower, Bright Hill, Upper Thomson and Caldecott will be within a 10-minute walk of one of the nine stations along stages one and two of the TEL.It is estimated that another 23 stations on the TEL should open by 2024.Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore#singapore #publictransport | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/thomson-east-coast-line-2021-opening/ | mothership-sg | The six-station Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stage two is getting ready to be open to commuters in the third quarter of 2021, the Land Transport Authority said on April 30.
This comes about a year after it was initially scheduled to open.
Travelling time to be cut for many
Some 100,000 households in Springleaf, Lentor, Mayflower, Bright Hill, Upper Thomson and Caldecott will be within a 10-minute walk of one of the nine stations along stages one and two of the TEL.
The six-station TEL has been handed over to operator SMRT, with all civil and structural works for the stations completed.
The new line will bring time savings to commuters.
Sin Ming residents travelling to Republic Polytechnic, for example, will have their travel time cut from 50 minutes to 25 minutes.
More stations to open in next three years
Following this handover of stations from LTA to SMRT, emergency-preparedness exercises will be carried out.
Woodlands North, Woodlands and Woodlands South -- three TEL stations -- were opened in January 2020, but stage two of the line was delayed due to Covid-19.
Another 23 stations on the TEL should open by 2024.
Singapore is expanding its rail network to about 360km by 2030.
The Jurong Region Line and the Cross Island Line are the other lines under construction. |
Article | Singapore is "a long way off" from being able to open its borders to international travellers in the way that it did before, said Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong (PM Lee) in an interview on May 19.He pointed out that that it was "not easy to make a match" with another country to establish a travel bubble, as countries would only want to establish a travel bubble with other countries that were relatively safer.Furthermore, PM Lee said, the countries involved would need to have "confidence", and expressed hopes that this could be restored by vaccination, which would help to bring the disease under control.#singapore #covid19 #travelbubble | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/pm-lee-covid-international-travel/ | mothership-sg | Singapore is "a long way off" from being able to open its borders to international travellers in the way that it did before, said Prime Minster Lee Hsien Loong (PM Lee) in an interview on May 19.
However, PM Lee explained that Singapore could not afford to seal its borders off to the rest of the world.
This is because Singapore is "a small open country" that is reliant on food and fuel from other countries, as well as "people moving in and out, even during Covid-19."
Thus, he said, Singapore could only close borders "to the extent that [it] can", even while taking precautions against the spread of the virus.
"We have various ways of enabling safe travel between us and other countries," he said, acknowledging that while there were limits on the number of people who could travel, "at least it keeps the channels open."
He described the approach as "not without risk, but unavoidable."
Travel bubbles: "Not easy to make a match"
PM Lee also spoke about travel bubbles and how Singapore viewed them.
He pointed out that that it was "not easy to make a match" with another country to establish a travel bubble, as countries would only want to establish a travel bubble with other countries that were relatively safer.
Furthermore, PM Lee said, the countries involved would need to have "confidence", and expressed hopes that this could be restored by vaccination, which would help to bring the disease under control.
PM Lee elaborated on this later in the interview, saying that what was needed was "mutual understanding of each other’s situations, and mutual confidence that we will be open with one another and will keep things under control, or if not, we will fly a red flag straightaway."
Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble
He also acknowledged that Singapore's agreement with Hong Kong to establish a travel bubble had not yet been implemented, saying that "it may be a while before it comes into effect."
PM Lee also answered a question posed by the moderator about whether there was "an international consortium to try to encourage more travel going forward to reopen as quickly", and if Singapore was part of it.
He said that there was no such international consortium, as countries were "not yet ready", and pointed out that some countries are "still tightening up their rules" due to increased incidence of more transmissible mutant strains of Covid-19.
PM Lee said that Singapore hopes to "have a wider inkblot" by joining various travel bubbles together, but said that this would "take a while".
PM Lee also expressed concerns about the Covid-19 situation in other parts of the world, such as India, Latin America, and Africa.
Singapore is "far from out of the woods"
Singapore is "far from out of the woods" in its management of the Covid-19 situation, PM Lee said, providing an overview of Singapore's situation.
Because of this, PM Lee said, countries "cannot afford to slacken" as the Covid-19 outbreak "pops up in a new direction" whenever it seems to be under control.
However, he said that Singapore's experience with SARS in 2003 "primed our system" to deal with the "next new disease", making it easier for the government to have "the right policies", as well as the cooperation of the population.
PM Lee's interview was part of the US Chamber of Commerce's inaugural Global Forum on Economic Recovery. You can access the transcript here, or watch the interview here:
Top image screenshot from PMO on YouTube |
Article | Singapore has been in talks with several pharmaceuticals to manufacture vaccines and therapeutics locally, including Sanofi Pasteur and Thermo Fisher Scientific.Both companies will be situating their vaccine facilities in Singapore.However, attracting pharmaceuticals and vaccine manufacturers to situate themselves in Singapore is not just for local benefit, but for the region and the rest of the world as well.#vaccines | https://mothership.sg/2021/05/singapore-produce-vaccines-for-region-alvin-tan/ | mothership-sg | Attracting pharmaceuticals and vaccine manufacturers such as Sanofi Pasteur and Thermo Fisher Scientific to situate themselves in Singapore is not just for local benefit, but for the region and the rest of the world as well.
Singapore to be capable of end-to-end vaccine production by 2026
Minister of State for Trade and Industry (MTI), and Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Alvin Tan shared this insight during a plenary session at the St. Gallen Symposium on May 5, in response to a question about what leaders can do to handle the pandemic globally, and ensure that vaccines get to everybody.
Tan was speaking to about 2,000 participants from across the world at the 50th edition of the symposium, a three-day event (May 5- 7) supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Economic Development Board (EDB).
Singapore has been in talks with several pharmaceuticals to manufacture vaccines and therapeutics locally, including Sanofi and Thermo Fisher.
Both companies will be situating their vaccine facilities in Singapore.
Tan added that by 2026, Singapore will be capable of end-to-end vaccine production.
The move is to ensure that Singapore has a steady supply of vaccines, and can overcome challenges posed by supply chain disruptions, said Tan.
Not just for Singaporeans, but for the world too
However, Tan shared that bringing the facilities to Singapore is not only for local consumption, but for the region and the world as well.
"And not just in terms of vaccine supply, but in terms of research, investment, and enterprise," Tan said.
Tan noted Singapore's limitations as a small island state, and the vulnerabilities and constraints Singapore has to overcome.
"It's not natural that we would be a vaccine manufacturer; it's not natural that we are a hub for services for carbon sequestration and trading," Tan said.
"So we've always have had to...punch above our weight, secure the factors that will help us overcome our vulnerabilities, but also be relevant to the world", he said.
Playing a role in helping global fight against Covid-19
Adding to his point about Singapore's goal to supply vaccines beyond local consumption, he said that the government was aware that the Covid-19 virus "respects no borders".
He pointed out that Singapore lacked the luxury of larger countries such as the United States and China to be able to close their borders, despite a slight rise in local cases in recent weeks.
Hence, he suggested a need to cooperate with other countries in order to handle the pandemic globally, adding that Singapore has played a part in sending aid to India, a country seeing record numbers of daily cases in the midst of its second wave.
Tan mentioned the example of Singapore doing its part by sending 256 oxygen cylinders to India.
Tan also wanted Singapore to play a key role in the global fight against Covid-19.
"We will produce not just for ourselves. In fact, we cannot just produce for ourselves, but we want to be a research hub for the world, and also a keynote in the supply chain to service the world", he said.
Only location with participants
This year's St Gallen Symposium has adopted a hybrid format, with live panels and discussions streamed from St Gallen in Switzerland, Singapore, and the United States.
Singapore is the only location with participants attending the conference.
Hosted by UBS, this is the first time Singapore is holding an event concurrently with the actual symposium in Switzerland.
Top image via Alvin Tan/Facebook, EDB website |
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