Singapore — Former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng once again urges Singapore to relax its stringent pandemic measures. Despite Singapore’s high vaccination rates, it remains the only country that persistently maintains severe pandemic restrictions. Cheng cautions that while many Singaporeans — imbued with the kiasu (afraid to lose) and kiasi (fear of death) mentality — are in favor of the measures, this cautious stance could be detrimental to the nation in the long run.
“I am going to again call for the relaxation of pandemic restrictions in Singapore.
Specifically, we need to relax group sizes, stop all restrictions on F&B, and open up travel with no quarantine for all vaccinated travellers,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Jan 22.
Mr. Calvin Cheng clarified that he is not calling for restrictions to be eased because his businesses are affected or because he has not been able to travel abroad.
“I have no business interests in Singapore that are affected by pandemic restrictions, and I have been traveling frequently overseas ever since I was vaccinated.”
The ex-NMP, an entrepreneur, visited London for three months in 2021, as well as went to Dubai toward the end of the year.
He wrote that he was in London “during the height of Delta.”
Despite this, “London at that time was a place where people were going out maskless, indoors and outdoors, and there were no group restrictions. Everything was open.”
And at no time did Mr. Calvin Cheng test positive for Covid when he was “flying between countries in Europe.”
Last year, before the Omicron variant began to infect many, Mr. Calvin Cheng came home to get his booster shot.
“I believe very much in vaccines, and the science showed that two jabs were not sufficient to protect against symptomatic Omicron. Omicron is also very infectious.”
After getting his shot, he travelled to Dubai. However, after four days in Dubai, his pre-departure test for Singapore, he tested positive for Covid-19 but had no symptoms of the disease.
Upon his return, he self-isolated. “That’s how infectious Omicron is. However, no vaccinated person I know who caught Omicron fell seriously sick.
Double-vaccinated people had colds and sore throats. Triple-vaccinated people like me were mostly asymptomatic. Unvaccinated people had the equivalent of a serious flu,” he wrote.
Mr. Calvin Cheng added that the countries that are having difficulty battling an Omicron wave are generally those with low vaccination rates.
“Places in Europe that are back in lockdown have vaccination rates hovering around 65%.
The UK has an almost 100% vaccination rate among over 60s. The UAE has the highest vaccination rates in the world.
Both places are living life normally with no restrictions, except for masking in Dubai.”
In Singapore, 91 percent of the total population has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Ninety-one percent of the eligible population and 88 percent of the total population have completed the full regimen of doses, say the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health. Moreover, 55 percent of the total population has already received booster shots.
“Singapore alone stands out as a highly vaccinated country with restrictive rules,” wrote Mr Calvin Cheng
He acknowledged, however, that his opinion is dissimilar to many Singaporeans.
“Unfortunately, a recent survey shows that the majority of Singaporeans agree with thee (sic) rules (about 60%).
As I have written before, the kiasu and kiasi (afraid to lose, afraid it die) DNA runs deep in Singaporean blood. It is also typical of small-islander mentality where people have an urge to shut their borders and stick their heads in the sand.”
The former NMP noted that these perspectives would “not bode well for Singapore.
Being overly conservative, scared, and over-reliant on the Government to protect us, will be the death of Singapore.
We are highly vaccinated. Omicron is mostly mild amongst vaccinated people.”
He also added his oft-repeated refrain that senior citizens who refuse vaccination “need to face the consequences. They should be put at the end of the queue for hospital beds if they fall sick with Covid.”
The rest of Singaporeans “need to stop being afraid and live.”
“I have. I even got Covid.
I am living a normal a life as I can.
I am not a turtle,” he wrote.
/TISG
Read also: Calvin Cheng on OMICRON cases being allowed to recover at home: “Very good. We win. Turtles lose.”
Calvin Cheng on OMICRON cases being allowed to recover at home: “Very good. We win. Turtles lose.”