aseanpr

$3b in top-ups to CPF accounts made last year by 140,000 members, up 40% from 2019

aseanpr 3 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Amid the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, 140,000 Central Provident Fund (CPF) members made account top-ups under the Retirement Sum Topping-Up Scheme. They put in a total of $3 billion in top-ups to their or their loved-ones' accounts, 40 per cent more than the amount of top-ups made in 2019, said the CPF Board on Wednesday (Feb 3). The Board added that $1.2 billion of top-ups were made in the fourth quarter of last year alone. The number of people topping up for the first time rose, especially among the younger set. More than one in three of those who made top-ups last year were first-timers, which is an increase of more than 50 per cent compared with the previous year, said the CPF Board in a media release. Among young people below 35 years old, there were 86 per cent more who topped up for the first time last year, compared with the previous year. This group saw the highest increase in first-timers. Compared with 2019, 27 per cent more people topped up their parents' CPF accounts last year. The Retirement Sum Topping-Up Scheme allows members to use cash or existing CPF savings to top up their own or their loved ones’ accounts. For recipients below t...

8½ years’ jail for woman who abused family friend

aseanpr 3 2 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - A 34-year-old woman has become the fifth person from her family to be sent to jail over offences involving a mildly intellectually disabled friend who was treated as a slave and physically abused until she almost died. Haslinda Ismail was sentenced on Wednesday (Feb 3) to 8½ years' jail after she pleaded guilty last month to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt and one count of twisting the victim's toe with a pair of pliers until it fractured. She is out on $30,000 bail and will surrender herself at the State Courts on March 1 to begin her sentence. She had splashed hot water on the victim, now 30, scalding her stomach, thigh and groin. She also used a hammer to strike the victim's mouth, causing her to lose two teeth. On another occasion, Haslinda urinated into a packet of hor fun and forced the victim to eat the soiled food. The famished woman complied. Haslinda's sister, Hasniza Ismail, 40, who committed acts such as chaining the victim up to a metal plate fixed to a wall and hitting her with a baseball bat, was sentenced to three years' jail on Monday. She was also ordered to pay $1,000 in compensation to the victim. Their two brothers, Muhammad Iskandar Ismail, ...

Additional Covid-19 testing for maids, confinement nannies entering S’pore

aseanpr 3 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - There will be additional coronavirus testing measures for foreign domestic workers and confinement nannies landing in Singapore from Friday (Feb 5), said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Wednesday. These will apply to workers with travel history in territories the government deems as high risk due to the prevalence of Covid-19 infection there. Newly arrived work permit holders and S-pass holders in the construction, marine and process sectors will also be required to undergo a seven-day testing regime after their stay-home notice (SHN). This additional requirement will apply to workers who have yet to complete their SHN by Feb 5, and all new arrivals from that day onwards. Under this new measure, workers will spend these seven days at a designated facility and undergo additional swab tests when they start work. This is after they have completed their 14-day SHN at dedicated SHN facilities on arrival and undergone a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The additional seven-day testing regime has already been required of workers staying in dormitories since Jan 6. MOM said that the multi-ministry task force made the decision to extend the testing measures to further red...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Feb 3

aseanpr 3 2 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Feb 3. Bill limiting police use of TraceTogether data to serious crimes passed by Parliament The Bill was put through all three readings in one parliamentary sitting. READ MORE HERE Critical need to rebuild the public's trust in TraceTogether What Singaporeans take issue with is the perceived lack of a timely and proactive admission of an error, says senior political correspondent Grace Ho. READ MORE HERE $900 million given to landlords under rental relief framework to help tenants stay afloat 115,990 cash grant notices were issued to property owners with tenants eligible for rental relief. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Hundreds of shoppers throng Chinatown Complex wet market ahead of Chinese New Year They were hoping to stock up on seafood and ingredients for steamboat dishes. READ MORE HERE GPs, polyclinics seeing rise in patients with flu-like symptoms as some let guard down Some patients could also be heeding advice to seek medical attention early for acute respiratory infections. READ MORE HERE 3 children among 19 new Covid-19 imported cases in S...

How they rose to the challenge

aseanpr 3 2 月

3 minutes

MOST STRESSFUL AT START The most stressful period was the start of Covid-19, when we received the first critically ill patient who tested positive. We knew very little about the virus at that time, and were concerned whether it would be very infectious and how we would need to respond... What keeps me fulfilled and looking forward to work every day is seeing patients recover and get discharged from hospital. MR ABDUL WAHAB, 54, nurse clinician in the intensive care unit at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). HAPPY TO GIVE BACK I feel honoured to be representing the Health Promotion Board's swab workforce. Yet, I am only a part of this collective effort by everyone involved in swab operations... I was quite happy (to be deployed to the dorms) because I could help give back to the foreign workers. I never had a chance to let them feel that Singaporeans care for them. I would also thank them after taking their nasal swabs. MR BENSON NG, 32, Covid-19 swabber. BRAVING THE UNKNOWN Many of our Certis front-liners proactively volunteered for this operation as they wanted to do their part for the community. They have been working tirelessly for the past year braving the unkn...

Man, 28, on trial for murder of four-year-old stepdaughter

aseanpr 2 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - A 28-year-old man went on trial on Tuesday (Feb 2) for killing his four-year-old stepdaughter, allegedly after he became angry at her for urinating outside the toilet bowl. Muhammad Salihin Ismail is accused of causing fatal injury to the girl, Nursabrina Agustiani Abdullah, some time between 9am on Sept 1, 2018, and 9.40am on Sept 2, 2018, at a flat in Bukit Batok. He faces the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted of murder. Salihin also faces two other charges for acts of violence against the girl. All the alleged offences took place between July 2017 and September 2018. The High Court heard that the girl came into his care after he was released from the Singapore Armed Forces detention barracks in February 2017. "Within a year and a half she was dead," said Deputy Public Prosecutor Senthilkumaran Sabapathy. The court was told that Salihin's wife is in prison and will be testifying as a prosecution witness. The two other charges have been stood down for now, after defence lawyers objected to Salihin being tried on the non-capital charges together with the capital murder charge. Salihin is accused of causing hurt to the girl between July and October 2017 at ...

Dip in those satisfied with public transport, but most feel improvement from previous year: PTC survey

aseanpr 2 2 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - Fewer commuters were satisfied with Singapore's public transport last year compared with 2019, despite those who said they were happy giving public transport here a higher score. Still, a vast majority of Singaporeans - 97.6 per cent - did not have too many complaints about the trains and buses here, and three in four said services had improved from a year ago. This is according to the annual public transport customer satisfaction survey conducted by the Public Transport Council (PTC). The survey seeks to better understand commuters' needs and identify areas for improvement. In results released on Tuesday (Feb 2), the PTC said satisfaction levels recorded last year were consistent with the pattern established in the previous four years, despite the unprecedented circumstances caused by the coronavirus. Some discontent over reduced bus services to match lower commuter demand, for example, was compensated by people who were impressed by the deployment of public transport workers and ambassadors to help commuters at MRT stations. Overall, public transport here was given an average score of 7.8 - same as in 2019 - by respondents. "Commuters continued to be satisfied with pu...

No need to check in at different shops in same mall when TraceTogether-only entry begins

aseanpr 2 2 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - The inconvenience of checking in and out with SafeEntry at different stores within a shopping centre will be a thing of the past once compulsory TraceTogether-only SafeEntry kicks in. A single check-in with the TraceTogether app or token to public venues such as malls will suffice in the future, according to a written parliamentary reply on Monday evening (Feb 1). Currently, people who visit public places that have many visitors or have a high transmission risk of Covid-19 - malls, dine-in eateries and workplaces, for example - must check-in using SafeEntry or TraceTogether for contact tracing purposes in the event of a detected coronavirus case. After checking in, they have to do so again when entering other places within the venue, such as large shops in a mall. Check-ins using TraceTogether is not mandatory for now. But Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said in a written parliamentary reply to Mr Leon Perera (Aljunied) that with the better TraceTogether coverage after the implementation of TraceTogether-only SafeEntry at public places, "we will also remove some existing SafeEntry check-ins to minimise public inconvenience". "For example, after checking in to a mall via T...

Postponed National Day Awards Investiture Ceremony 2020 to be held on April 4

aseanpr 2 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Last year's postponed National Day Awards Investiture Ceremony (NDI) will be held this year on April 4 at ITE College Central. President Halimah Yacob will present the awards at the ceremony, which will be split over two sessions and organised in accordance with safe management measures, the Istana said on Tuesday (Feb 2). The annual National Day Awards, which began in 1962, recognise individuals for their contributions to the civil or military service, social and community work, or for excellent performance in their respective fields. Last year's in-person ceremony was postponed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 5,472 individuals in 24 award categories received National Day Honours, announced on Aug 9 last year. It was topped by former senior minister S. Jayakumar, who is senior legal adviser to the foreign minister. He was awarded Singapore's highest civilian honour, the Order of Temasek (With High Distinction), for his sustained and invaluable contributions to Singapore. Mr Jayakumar served as a diplomat and minister in a public service career spanning more than 30 years, and continued to lend his expertise on issues such as the Pedra Branca di...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Feb 2

aseanpr 2 2 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Tuesday, Feb 2. Myanmar military removes 24 ministers, deputies in Suu Kyi's government, names 11 replacements Ms Aung San Suu Kyi and key officials were detained as the military seized power. READ MORE HERE Biden demands Myanmar military cede power, orders sanctions review This crisis marks a first major test of Biden’s pledge to collaborate more with allies on global challenges. READ MORE HERE Myanmar emergency: 5 things you need to know about the political crisis Why did the military challenge the latest vote? READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Singapore Parliament declares climate change a global emergency MPs raised suggestions on how Singapore can do more to tackle climate change. READ MORE HERE Covid-19 vaccines can't currently be given to S'poreans who wish to travel overseas, due to limited supplies: Janil Healthcare and front-line workers, as well as seniors, have to be prioritised, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary. READ MORE HERE 2 people at Mediacorp actor Jeffrey Xu's party face charges for breaking Covid-19 rules The party at a...

Migrant workers in higher-risk dorms to get Covid-19 vaccines first: Tan See Leng

aseanpr 1 2 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Migrant workers in dormitories will be vaccinated by the end of this year, the same timeline as for the rest of Singapore, Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said in Parliament on Monday (Feb 1). The workers - among the priority groups for vaccination - will be vaccinated based on the risk level of the dorms they reside in, with those at higher risk to go first, said Dr Tan. The minister was responding to a question from Mr Leon Perera (Aljunied GRC), who asked for the timeline of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out for migrant workers and the measures taken to encourage their uptake. In his reply, Dr Tan said the communal living and working conditions of migrant workers in dorms put them at higher risk of infection and the formation of large clusters. Vaccination will be made available to them as part of the national vaccination strategy to protect all Singaporeans and long-term pass holders living in Singapore, he added. Vaccination of migrant workers helps to reduce the viral load, which in turn lowers the overall risk and helps protect the wider community from an outbreak, he pointed out. "This will also reduce the potential load on our healthcare workers and facil...

Proposed restrictions to safeguard contact tracing data will override all other laws: Smart Nation office

aseanpr 1 2 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - Proposed changes to the law to restrict the use of contact tracing data in criminal investigations to serious crimes will override all other laws. This means that public agencies cannot cite other laws to compel the use or disclosure of the personal data except for contact tracing in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic or for investigations into only serious crimes, such as murder and terrorism. The contact tracing data that the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill protects includes the proximity data of nearby users of contact tracing devices, the places that people visited and their personal information such as their names, identification numbers and contact details. The Bill was introduced in Parliament on Monday (Feb 1) by Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on a Certificate of Urgency, which means that the proposed law is urgent enough to be put through all three readings in one parliamentary sitting, instead of separate sessions. Dr Balakrishnan, who is Foreign Minister, is also Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, and introduced the Bill on behalf of Law Minister K. Shanmugam. The Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) said in ...

S’pore’s tourist arrivals fell 85% to 2.7m, lowest in four decades due to Covid-19

aseanpr 1 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Visitor arrivals to Singapore plummeted to 2.7 million last year, the lowest in about four decades, following unprecedented global travel restrictions and border closures amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year's arrivals nearly all took place during the first two months of the year, and the total number is a drop of 85.7 per cent from arrivals in the whole of 2019, said the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) on Monday (Feb 1). Tourism receipts also tumbled 78.4 per cent to $4.4 billion in the first three quarters of last year, from the same period in 2019. This was largely due to the unprecedented global travel restrictions and border closures, the STB said. STB chief executive Keith Tan said: "STB remains confident in Singapore's position as one of the world's safest and most attractive leisure and business destinations, and the long-term prospects of Singapore's tourism sector." While mass international travel is unlikely to resume in a major way this year, he said the STB will continue to work with industry partners to prepare for a recovery. Domestic demand has now become critical to support tourism businesses, with international travel at a standstill. The SingapoRedisco...

Singapore will have capacity to get population vaccinated against Covid-19 by Q3 2021, but may take longer to do so

aseanpr 1 2 月

2 minutes

SINGAPORE - Singapore will have the capacity and capability to get its population vaccinated by the third quarter of this year, said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary. However, it might take up to the end of the year to do so, depending on a combination of factors. These factors include vaccine supply, as well as the willingness of Singaporeans and long-term residents to get vaccinated, Dr Janil said. "Our ability to deliver on this is present, and will be present," he said. "But we hope that the communications, outreach and engagement necessary in order to make this happen is something that members of this House will assist with." He was responding to Workers' Party chairman Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC), who had asked for clarification on when the nationwide Covid-19 vaccine roll-out will be completed. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in December that the country will have enough vaccines for everyone in Singapore by the third quarter of this year, if all goes according to plan. Dr Janil replied that although this still holds true, there may be members of the public who require further explanation on why getting vaccinated is the right thing to do, or require f...

Four who had severe allergic reactions from Covid-19 vaccine have recovered, none needed ICU support

aseanpr 1 2 月

5 minutes

SINGAPORE - The four people who experienced a rapid onset of severe allergic reactions after receiving their Covid-19 vaccinations have all recovered, with none needing intensive care unit (ICU) support. Responding in Parliament on Monday (Feb 1) to questions from several MPs about the supply and side effects of the vaccine, Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary added that the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks. Singapore's Covid-19 vaccination drive began on Dec 30. So far, front-liners such as medical personnel and aviation and maritime sector workers, and the elderly, have started receiving their Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine jabs. Dr Janil told the House that among those who have been vaccinated so far, there were four reported cases of anaphylaxis, which is the rapid onset of severe allergic reactions. They were all in their 20s and 30s, and developed multiple symptoms such as rash, breathlessness, lip swelling, throat tightness and giddiness, he said. "Three of the individuals had a history of allergies, including allergic rhinitis and food allergy such as to shellfish, but none had a history of anaphylaxis which would have precluded them from receivi...

HDB launches new app for shoppers at Oasis Terraces in Punggol

aseanpr 31 1 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Those who buy from shops at HDB shopping complex Oasis Terraces in Punggol can now use an app to redeem points that can be exchanged for items such as parking credits and gifts as part of a pilot initiative. They can also use the app, ShopperLink, to access a comprehensive directory that lists the shops and services that are available in the mall, view products and services offered by retailers, as well as find out about ongoing events and programmes at the mall. "This will help heartland retailers to transform their business models, keep pace with the evolving retail landscape, and provide more personalised services to shoppers," said the Housing Board in a statement on Sunday (Jan 31), adding that the move to roll out the app was made in response to feedback gathered from heartland retailers in 2019. Another app, RetailerLink, will complement the ShopperLink app. HDB shops can upload their product and service offerings on the app, and use a chat function to respond to customers' inquiries, among other things. New functions will eventually be added, said the HDB, such as those that enable shop owners to book event space and access reports on sales data. So far, about 9...

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on Jan 31

aseanpr 31 1 月

2 minutes

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Sunday, Jan 31. Singapore's nightclubs and karaoke outlets in the dark after pilot fails to take off Many had invested a significant amount in preparing for the pilot, which was to have started this month. READ MORE HERE Singapore's teen ISA case: Is the Internet to blame for youth self-radicalisation? News that a Singaporean teenager had planned to carry out a terror attack has parents worried about their children’s activities online. But is the Internet solely to blame? READ MORE HERE Do not lay out trays of CNY goodies; practise strict hand hygiene during visits, say experts This is because this kind of communal eating increases the risk of spreading Covid-19. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Lunch With Sumiko: Hip-hop and honesty go hand in hand, says rapper Yung Raja Yung Raja’s uniquely Singaporean English-Tamil hip-hop is inspired by his own experience as the son of immigrant parents. READ MORE HERE askST: What is a stay-home notice and how is it enforced in Singapore? The government has been constantly updating quarantine requirements for travellers as the ...

Amid global warming, Singapore’s an innovation hot spot: McKinsey chair

aseanpr 31 1 月

1 minute

So, Davos week has just ended and appropriately enough, the World Economic Forum (WEF) themed this year's discussions around the Great Reset. As always, the Geneva-based forum got its timing right. What better time to be discussing Asia than when it has moved front and centre to the world of geopolitics, economics and the big issue of our time - climate change. According to WEF's projection, Asia now accounts for fully half of global gross domestic product, when adjusted for purchasing power parity. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

Don’t let new variants deter you from getting vaccinated: Experts

aseanpr 31 1 月

6 minutes

New variants of the virus that causes Covid-19 have recently caused some concern that they may evade the immune response induced by existing vaccines, but there is no evidence yet of this occurring, said experts here, urging people not to hesitate over getting vaccinated. "Existing vaccines work against the virus variants circulating in the community, so people should continue to step up to receive the vaccine," said Professor Benjamin Seet, deputy group chief executive for education and research at the National Healthcare Group and a member of the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination. "The more people who are vaccinated, the more who will be protected against current variants and, likely, new variants as well." Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, began mutating soon after it was discovered. The new variants that were first identified in Britain (B117), Brazil (P1) and South Africa (B1351) appear to be more contagious. In pre-emptive moves, vaccine developers are preparing to modify their vaccines against these variants. "There is no immediate cause for concern, as these new variants have not been shown to cause more serious illness," said Prof Seet, who chairs an exper...

Look at him dance

aseanpr 31 1 月

1 minute

Yung Raja arrives for lunch with manicured nails. Pink, green, yellow, purple - they run the range of candy pop colours. "I've always been thick-skinned and confident in myself," the rapper says when I ask him why he paints his nails. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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