Singapore — Critics of the government, politicians as well as netizens, have been quick to chime in with their disapproval of its latest decision to extend the current Covid-related curbs till Nov 21.
After fresh Covid-19 infections reached a one-day high of 3,994 on Oct 19, and related deaths soared to 18 on Oct 20, the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) which coordinates national decision-making on the pandemic announced the extension.
Prominent among them is longtime opposition leader Chee Soon Juan expressed his dismay in a Facebook post, saying that Singaporeans are “not impressed” with the leadership and decision making of the ministers in charge of managing the pandemic.
Dr Chee, who has apparently wanted for a long time to open a place where people could gather and hold discussions over a meal or a cuppa seems to have also acquired a newfound sympathy for the food and beverage industry, one of the sectors hardest hit by the curbs on socialising,
“It’s been a month since the MMTF restricted dining-in to 2. If in this time the numbers are still not falling, perhaps it’s because F&B outlets are not the source of the recent explosion of infections. Why, then, continue to use eating places as the whipping boy?,” he wrote.
Dr Chee, who is secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party, minced no words in his criticism of the MTF, writing, “The leadership and decision-making by these younger ministers have come in for close scrutiny, as they should. And Singaporeans are not impressed.”
People’s Voice (PV) party chief Lim Tean took aim at Health Minister Ong Ye Kung’s recent comment that Singapore is “moving closer to the light at the end of the” pandemic tunnel.
Said Mr Lim, a lawyer: “How is the Covid situation stabilising when there was a record 18 deaths yesterday and a new record of 3994 cases on Tuesday????”
Only TWO days after Ong Ye Kung told Singaporeans that day by day we are moving towards the light at the end of the tunnel, it appears that the tunnel is being extended!
“PV sends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have passed away from Covid. We feel your pain and you are in our prayers at this difficult time,” wrote Mr Lim in a Facebook post on Thursday morning.
Netizens have also been quick on the draw to question, comment and, in some cases, poor scorn on the guideleines and measures instituted by th government.
On various social media beyond Facebook, including WhatsApp and Telegram chat groups, some of them have been pointing out that it is ridiculous for the MTF to expect that people who live in one=-room and two-room flats can actually isolate from their families and others whom they live with.
Another point of criticism has been poor conditions at migrant workers’ dormitories that could add to the unchecked spread of Covid-19 infections, just as they had at the beginning of the pandemic.
One such dormitory in Jurong was in the news recently, after riot police were deployed amid workers’ complaints of poor food and the lack of medical care.
In a letter published in The Straits Times Forum page, Tang Li pointed out that “even more can be done in the fight against Covid-19, in addition to the vaccination drive, mask mandates and the tightening of social restrictions.”
There still seem to be gaps in the promised review of living standards in these dorms, Tang Li said, adding: “But this time round, when there are again cases of Covid-19 in the dorms, some workers are voicing their frustrations.”
/TISG
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