One would have his or her head buried in the sand not to know that Singapore has finally announced the easing of some restrictions in relation to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
For instance, most restrictions will be lifted for visitors who are fully vaccinated, while a simplified Vaccinated Travel Framework will let Singaporeans travel overseas much more easily.
These turning point changes include increasing the group size from the current 5 persons to 10 persons, allowing up to 75% of employees to return to their workplaces, increasing the capacity limit for larger events (those with more than 1,000 people) to 75%, dropping the compulsory mask-wearing requirement outdoors and easing cross-border travel restrictions.
“Our fight against COVID-19 has reached a major turning point. We will be making a decisive move towards living with COVID-19,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his speech.
Does the rot come from the top?
While these changes, coming in on 29 March 2022, will be appreciated by most, PM Lee’s speech has been notably silent on our blue-collar migrant workers. Just last week, we had talked about the parallel universe our migrant workers have to live in.
While some of their restrictions will be eased, it is in no way, shape, or form, comparable to the rest of the country. This is despite the fact that 98% of all migrant workers in dormitories have been vaccinated.
For example, they are still not permitted to move freely. Currently, the quotas for migrant workers visiting the community are capped at 3,000 on weekdays and 6,000 on weekends and public holidays. As of 29 March, this number will be increased to 15,000 on weekdays and 30,000 on weekends and public holidays for up to eight hours per visit.
Our migrant workers are not criminals. Is it fair to restrict them in such a manner? Especially in light of their high vaccination rate and low infection rates in dormitories?
How have our politicians come to this conclusion? Looking at the calibre of questions our members of parliament (MPs) have raised, such as bubble tea regulation and time stamping our university degrees, one does wonder whether they have their fingers on the pulse? Perhaps the Workers’ Party’s Jamus Lim is right to observe that our A-level students were more insightful than our politicians!
“Incredibly, the nature of the questions that the students asked were “more in-depth and thoughtful” than the ones usually posed to him in interviews and over social media, adding, “and (I hesitate to say) even what we manage to get into in Parliament”.
Ridiculous, Untold Tales of Singapore
Function 8 has published a new book: “Ridiculous, Untold Tales of Singapore” with never-been-told stories and insights on our socio-political landscape by Dr Chee Soon Juan, Lim Kay Siu, Alfian Sa’at, Kirsten Han and Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss.
The book also contains a collation of past events involving the curtailment of civil liberties and judicial decisions which impact public interest and civil and political rights. By recounting these experiences and milestones, the book seeks to highlight the ways access to fundamental rights and freedoms has been restricted over the years, and reflect on how such repression has affected us as a people.
This book will be officially launched on March 30 and will be live-streamed. Check out Function 8’s Facebook page for more details.
NS Tough Luck Story
Amid the climate of rising costs of living, stretched wallets and struggles to live, it has come to light that a fitness instructor has been sentenced to 5 years and 8 months jail for being absent from national service (NS) duties for more than 17 years.
While it is the legal duty of every Singaporean man to serve NS, this story brings to light the financial hardship and difficult choices that some Singaporeans have to make to support their families.
Fitness instructor Mohammad Zaidie Ahmad told the court through his lawyer that he had been financially supporting his son and two step-siblings. He had absconded from NS duties so that the trio could be taken care of. Could allowances not be made for people who have dependents, such as Mr Zaidie? It is no secret that NS does not pay much. Would Mr Zaidie had been able to support his son and step-siblings on an NS pay?
I understand that the Singapore Government is of the view that NS is a must. If so, would it not consider paying conscripts more?
District Judge Marvin Bay stressed that “current world events make it all the clearer that the needs of national defense should be paramount”. I am not sure I agree with that simplistic reasoning.
Ukraine War
The war in Ukraine is anything but simple. The geopolitics and the remnants of the Cold War are still very much at play. There are also issues of ego and different agendas at play. It isn’t just a case of having a large army with lots of soldiers.
What about the argument that it is precisely because the world is too armed that we have even reached this point? Is Ukraine not at a stalemate precisely because everyone is so armed, with no clear victor in sight? If no one was armed, would there be so much war? /TISG