Let's talk about living and dying well, today

People should talk to loved ones in advance about how they want to die. Such conversations are always too early - until one day when they might be too late.
By Raymond Ng, Published The Straits Times, 29 Aug 2015

Death and dying engender complex emotions in people. To some, death is a remote event far removed from life's daily pursuits or a taboo subject to be avoided, yet, to others, there is peaceful acceptance of death as a final chapter of the natural cycle of life.

As a palliative care physician treating patients with advanced illness, I have witnessed an entire gamut of emotions and reactions to death and dying.



However, my first personal experience with death was not with my patients.

It was when my mother died when I was 18 years old. She had advanced ovarian cancer and battled the disease for five years through multiple operations and cycles of chemotherapy.

Those years were like a blur as we tried to have a normal family life, and I coped by burying myself in my studies. Though she grew cachectic and weak and was literally wasting away nearing the end, death was a taboo subject which never surfaced in our conversations. It just hit one day when I received a phone call during my basic military training at the army camp. It was only then that I knew she had died and was gone forever. My mother died without the family's presence and with a certain degree of pain in the final stage. My only goodbye was a tender kiss on her cheek as she lay lifeless on her bed.

Perhaps my parents wanted to shield us from the spectre of dying, or perhaps her doctor didnot adequately prepare us. Death and dying were issues that we did not talk about. It was not just about death and dying, there were many things I would have liked to say to or ask her, if only I knew.

After my mother's death, I entered medical school and found my way into palliative care some years after graduation. My experience with my mother was one of the reasons why I chose this speciality. Many have asked if it is a depressing practice. Personally, it has been a rewarding experience of professional and personal growth. I have been privileged to journey with many patients in their final act of life and to be let into their life stories and deepest thoughts.

Our Retirement Journey - Let’s Think About It

Let’s Think About It: Our Retirement Journey
27 Aug 2015

Should there by a retirement age or a range of retirement ages? Is a comfortable retirement possible?

What's the rule of thumb for retirement saving? Watch “Let’s Think About It” Gurmit Singh, Gerard Ee, Henry Tay and Stephanie Phua will share views and stories with Minister Chan Chun Sing on their retirement plans and journey.

K. Shanmugam's dialogue at the Singapore Press Club

Singapore cannot exist in a cocoon
Republic is affected by what happens in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, says Shanmugam
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 28 Aug 2015

Singapore enjoys good relations with Malaysia and Indonesia, but Singaporeans need to be more aware of trends and developments in these countries, Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday.

His remarks came four days after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singaporeans should pay attention to the world around them.



In a speech to media professionals, Mr Shanmugam said the Malaysian economy is not doing too well, even as Malaysia is grappling with rising racial, religious and political polarisation, as well as a weakening economy. These trends may have serious implications for Singapore's own economy and social cohesion, he said.

"Anyone who thinks that 700 square kilometres can exist by itself in a cocoon, unaffected by international or regional economic or sociopolitical issues, clearly doesn't understand how Singapore functions," he said in a speech titled Small State Diplomacy: Challenges And Opportunities For Singapore.

Any economic problem in Malaysia will be a serious issue for Singapore as the two countries are closely linked, he said at a two-hour session organised by the Singapore Press Club and held at the Singapore Press Holdings' auditorium.

While Singaporeans may see the current weak ringgit as a good thing, Mr Shanmugam disagrees. "When your neighbour's economy is in such a state, and your neighbour is your second-largest trading partner, it doesn't benefit us," he said.

He argued that Malaysia's challenge in the medium to long term is to move away from relying on its extractive industries and lift its economy to the next level.

But it needs an educated population to do it, he said, a requirement that highlights another long-term problem: Malaysia's schools are not racially integrated.

Chinese children attend Chinese-medium schools, while Malay children go to mainstream schools "which are becoming more and more Malay and Islamic". "From a very early age, the Malay and Chinese population are apart. How will they integrate later?"

This underlies Malaysia's second problem of rising racial polarisation, seen in how its race-based political parties are increasingly under strain, Mr Shanmugam said.

He highlighted the widening political divide among races, with the opposition Democratic Action Party dominated by ethnic Chinese, while Umno grows more powerful in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

He noted that high-level Umno leaders, but not the leadership, are openly pushing for a fully-Malay government, arguing that as Malays form 65 per cent of the population, there is no need for the Malaysian Indian Congress and Malaysian Chinese Association as in the current coalition government. Also, talk of Umno combining with Parti Islam SeMalaysia has become mainstream as well.

Closely tied to the increasing salience of race is Malaysia's rising Islamisation, Mr Shanmugam said. Broad sections of the Malay population support the adoption of Islamic laws and assess their political leaders in terms of how Muslim they are.

"An honest politician, an upright politician, will find it very difficult to talk about a united Malaysia that is more integrated. The political dynamics are such that he will have to play to the Malay ground," he said.

The Islamisation "has gone past the tipping point now", he added.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is under pressure from his political opponents, said Mr Shanmugam. This weekend's Bersih rally is shaping up into a confrontation between the authorities and the organisers who insist on defying orders.

The upshot is that Singapore will be affected by these trends, Mr Shanmugam said.

One, if investors view Malaysia as not completely stable, they may decide not to invest in Singapore.

How not to dismantle a meritocratic system

Learn from Britain, and avoid the mistakes it made when it overhauled a merit-based system and ended up with a system criticised for dumbing down examinations.
By Calvin Cheng, Published The Straits Times, 28 Aug 2015

The recent debate on elitism and meritocracy in our education system struck a chord. As children of the 1970s, my friends and I grew up in a generation when social mobility was highest. We went through an education system which allowed the children of lower-income parents to climb the socio-economic ladder if they did well in school, and make a better life for themselves than their parents and grandparents.

The thought that this meritocratic pillar of Singapore society is under threat, and that there are people calling for it to be dismantled, frightens me to the core. The speech by Mr Chan Poh Meng, the principal of Raffles Institution (RI), a school that traditionally takes in the highest academic performers, warning that RI is becoming more elitist, has focused attention on when meritocracy ends up breeding elitism.

Here, the experience of Britain can be instructive. Singapore's education system, with its O and A levels, is after all based on the British system.

In 1958, British sociologist Michael Young published a satire on society that described a future where a new elite, the "meritocracy", rose to rule over an underclass. This new ruling class, unlike the old aristocrats of Britain, legitimised their power not through bloodlines but on merit and on achievement, and, in particular, academic achievement.

At the heart of the satire was the criticism of the then British tripartite education system, which is what the current Singapore education system is based on. The idea was that students, regardless of background, should have access to an education. They would be empowered by placing them in schools with different curricula that suited their needs.

War veterans commemorate 70th anniversary of the end of World War II

Unforgettable images of World War II
Survivors and veterans share memories at ceremony to commemorate 70th anniversary of the end of the war
By Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, 28 Aug 2015

Major (Retired) Ishwar Lall Singh still remembers the shrill whistle of Japanese bombs falling through the sky and the sound of artillery fire thundering past.

The sight of dead bodies, crawling with maggots on the streets of Singapore, is another unforgettable World War II image.

Commemorating 70 Years Since the End Of World War II
While we celebrate a proud half century of independence this Singapore50, we also remember a very poignant landmark in our history some 20 years before our independence- when the Second World War officially ended in Singapore. The resilience and courage that our veterans displayed during World War II was recognised at the ceremony to commemorate the end of World War II yesterday. Many of those who experienced the war are no longer with us, but their tenacity lives on in the fighting spirit that their succeeding generations have exemplified in the decades since. From our Founding Fathers who overcame the early challenges of independence, to our Team Singapore athletes who recently overcame all limitations to excel above all expectations at SEA GAMES 2015, the greatest tribute we can pay to our forebears who lived through World War II is to live our lives in keeping with the values they stood so valiantly for. #70thAnniversaryWWII #LestWeForget
Posted by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth - MCCY on Friday, August 28, 2015

The 86-year-old recounted his experiences at an event yesterday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.

"I saw many dead people. With very few able to lend a helping hand, many died due to lack of proper care, food and medicine. There was no one around to clear their bodies," said Maj (Ret) Singh.

"Scabies, malaria and dysentery were common ailments that afflicted the whole population."



The ceremony, which was attended by war survivors, veterans and Inter-Religious Organisation representatives, included a segment in which Cultural Medallion recipient Professor Edwin Thumboo read a poem he wrote about growing up during the war.

A minute's silence was observed as well.

The National Heritage Board event was held in the City Hall Chamber at the National Gallery Singapore - the former Municipal Building.

It was where British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Supreme Allied Commander in South-East Asia, accepted the surrender of the Japanese forces in the region on Sept 12, 1945.

No link between GBS infection and eating sashimi, says MOH

It responds to claims of a bacterial outbreak from consuming contaminated raw fish
By Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 28 Aug 2015

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has not found any links between the Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection and the consumption of Japanese raw meat or fish dish sashimi.

In a Facebook post, it responded to messages circulating by SMS and WhatsApp from an unknown source that claimed a person had died recently from a bacterial infection after eating sashimi over the National Day weekend, and that a professor had been critically ill after consuming salmon sashimi two months ago.

The MOH said its investigation found only an association between the GBS infection and the consumption of "yusheng-style" raw fish sold at food stalls.

It had previously found traces of GBS in some raw fish samples, although it said more cases would have to be studied before a definite conclusion can be made.

In its post on Wednesday, the MOH highlighted that there has been a "significant downtrend" in the number of GBS cases since the middle of last month, when licensed foodshop and food stall holders were advised to stop selling raw fish dishes using Song fish, also known as Asian Bighead Carp, and Toman fish, also known as Snakehead fish.

A weekly average of three cases has been reported in the past three weeks, down from an average of 20 at the start of the year.

The WhatsApp messages warning of a bacterial outbreak from eating contaminated raw fish began circulating last month.

GBS is a common bacterium found in the gut and urinary tract of 15 to 30 per cent of adults, but it does not cause disease in healthy individuals. However, it may occasionally cause infections of the bloodstream, skin and soft tissue, joints, lungs and brain.

Those with chronic or multiple conditions are at higher risk of getting GBS infections.

MOH advised vulnerable groups, especially young children, pregnant women, elderly persons, or people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, to continue to exercise caution by avoiding raw ready-to-eat food.

More firms join Golden Work Series for seniors

It offers workshops to train them in job skills; 10 new partners bring jobs on offer to 200
By Olivia Ho, The Straits Times, 28 Aug 2015

Seniors in the heartland are to get more internships and part-time work opportunities offered through an active ageing programme.

The People's Association (PA) announced yesterday that 10 new companies will join the seven existing ones under its Senior Academy Golden Work Series.

The jobs offered by the new partners - which include POSB bank, Japanese fast-food chain Yoshinoya and Pet Lovers Centre - will add 100 vacancies to the programme, doubling the total to 200.

Launched in April, the Golden Work Series offers job skills-related workshops to seniors, who can then go on to try for internships, and part-time or light work opportunities at companies. They can earn between $5 and $8 an hour from this work. To date, 560 people have signed up for courses and 20 per cent of the available job opportunities have been taken up.

The PA is also expanding the programme from 10 to 15 community centres (CCs). More than 500 seniors attended a programme showcase at Potong Pasir CC yesterday, where they got to try their hand at courses such as mocktail making and basic banking.

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, grassroots adviser to Potong Pasir and the event's guest of honour, said he felt the programme was especially useful in a mature estate like Potong Pasir. He said: "Many of our elderly, health permitting, would like to carry on working, meet new friends and earn some pocket money."

GE2015: PAP introduces East Coast GRC, Fengshan & Punggol East SMC candidates

Singapore faces challenge of 'three peaks': Swee Say
By Jeremy Au Yong, The Straits Times, 28 Aug 2015

The leaders who emerge from the Sept 11 General Election will have to tackle key challenges posed by peaks in Singapore's workforce, population and the elderly.

Calling them the "three peaks", Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said yesterday that much is at stake at the polls because strategies will have to be found to address the implications of these issues.

"The way we grew our economy in the past... is no longer sustainable. It was the right strategy for the last decade, but it would not be the right strategy for the next decade and beyond," he said.



This is why it is important that voters back candidates who can help take the country forward over the next 50 years, he added.

"It's important to make sure that at the local level, we're electing people who can serve the community at the local level," he said.

"But I think it's even more important for us to put together a team to ensure that we can lead; we can serve Singapore at the national level for the next 10, 20, 50 years."

He was speaking at the People's Action Party's (PAP) Bedok branch, where the PAP candidates for East Coast GRC and Fengshan, the single-member constituency carved out of the group representation constituency, were introduced.

Ending speculation over who it would field in Fengshan, the party named long-time grassroots worker Cheryl Chan, 38. She replaces former minister Raymond Lim, who is quitting politics, and is expected to face a Workers' Party (WP) opponent, who is yet to be named.



The four remaining East Coast GRC incumbents will run again - anchor minister Lim Swee Say, 61, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Lee Yi Shyan, 53, Minister of State for National Development and Defence Mohamad Maliki Osman, 50, and two-term backbencher Jessica Tan, 49. In 2011, they won with just 54.8 per cent of the vote, a nine-point drop from 2006.

Meanwhile, PAP veteran Charles Chong, 62, settled another question by announcing that he will try to take back Punggol East SMC from WP incumbent Lee Li Lian. He issued a statement, breaking from the PAP tradition of holding a press conference.

National Day Rally 2015 Special with Lim Swee Say

Breaking down that two-thirds Singaporean core: Lim Swee Say
The Manpower Minister clarifies the number of locals to foreigners in the workforce, and tackles questions on the CPF payout eligibility age and minimum wage.

Channel NewsAsia, 26 Aug 2015

Some have asked if the goal of a two-thirds Singaporean core in the workforce is a realistic one, since Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said in a recent interview that the Government would hold fast to it.

Currently, residents make up about 62 per cent of the workforce. But this figure includes the construction workforce, where the ratio is one local for every seven foreigners, said Mr Lim.

Clarifying this on Tuesday (Aug 25) in a one-hour live show on MediaCorp's Channel 5, he said that taking only the manufacturing and services sectors into account, the ratio was in fact three locals to every one foreigner.

Of this three-quarters who are residents, he said, "the majority are Singaporeans - so in other words, if you look at these sectors outside of construction and foreign domestic maids, we are about there, at two-thirds," he said.

Helping to maintain this 2:1 ratio has been the tightening of foreign worker quotas and impact of levies. Mr Lim noted the "sharp drop" in Employment Passes since 2012 and in S-Passes since 2014. "Our challenge is, how do we maintain this and yet without running into problems of slow economic growth and high unemployment?”

In the past, a 3-per-cent growth in workforce plus 1-per-cent productivity growth made for 4-per-cent GDP growth. With foreign labour growth slowed to 1 per cent, "if we are not able to increase productivity, 1-plus-1 will only give us 2-per-cent growth every year,” he noted.

And small and medium enterprises - who employ 70 per cent of the workforce - would be most affected. The way out is to help these SMEs through the transition and to grow by becoming lean enterprises, added Mr Lim.

During the forum, Mr Lim fielded wide-ranging questions from members of the public on issues raised in the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech on Sunday.

GE2015: PAP unveils its slate for Marine Parade GRC

ESM Goh seeks clear mandate for Govt's plans
It took Singapore more than luck to have a good government in the last 50 years, he says
By Jermyn Chow, Defence Correspondent, The Straits Times, 27 Aug 2015

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has asked voters to give the ruling party a strong mandate to endorse what the current Government has been trying to do.



The 74-year-old, who is fighting his 10th election in Marine Parade GRC, noted that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's government had listened to the people since the last election and accelerated many plans and programmes.

So if Singaporeans are happy with what has been done, they should give the ruling party "a strong mandate to continue with what they are trying to do", said Mr Goh, who handed over the baton to PM Lee in 2004. Otherwise, the electorate will be "repudiating" what the Government has been doing.

The elder statesman is part of the five-member slate in Marine Parade, which was unveiled by anchor minister Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday.

Also in the line-up are incumbent MPs Seah Kian Peng and Fatimah Lateef. Mr Edwin Tong, who was part of Moulmein-Kallang GRC that no longer exists on the electoral map, rounds off the team.



Despite serving for nearly 40 years, ESM Goh told reporters that he is not retiring yet to ensure that there will be smooth leadership transition to fourth-generation leaders like Mr Tan, who is the Social and Family Development Minister.

Noting that governments can be categorised into the good, the bad and the ugly, ESM Goh said it took more than luck for Singapore to have a good government in the last 50 years. "I think it's actually man-made by a group of people who believe in Singapore," said ESM Goh, adding it is important for voters to give a good government a clear mandate.

"We have a good government, don't ever cause disruption to what we have been trying to do, which is national leadership transition and the continuity of good government."

When asked what a clear mandate is, he said that the party never fixes a percentage and "you will see it... hear it when the time comes".

GE2015: Workers' Party introduces candidates

Workers' Party (WP) new candidates empowered to keep mum over AHPETC accounts

AHPETC saga raised at WP press conf. Seems WP has finished its FY14/15 audit report and will file it soon. So it's going...
Posted by The Middle Ground on Wednesday, August 26, 2015

GE2015: PAP introduces 2 new faces in Nee Soon GRC

Shanmugam on need for new voices
PAP needs candidates who represent each generation, or risks becoming irrelevant
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 27 Aug 2015

The People's Action Party (PAP) must field candidates who give voice to each generation, or risks becoming irrelevant, said Law and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam yesterday.



"The Parliament has to be representative of those generational changes. Otherwise, you get disconnected," he said at a press conference to introduce the party's candidates for Nee Soon GRC, which he leads.

To that end, Mr Shanmugam has on his slate one of the party's first candidates from an activist background, animal-rights champion Louis Ng, 37.

The vocal chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) replaces unionist Patrick Tay in the slate, who will run in West Coast GRC instead. The other new face in the group representation constituency is fund manager Henry Kwek, 39, who will be fielded in retiring MP Inderjit Singh's place, while two incumbent MPs, Ms Lee Bee Wah and Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, round out the team.



Mr Shanmugam said that Mr Ng was one of the "young people who come in representing a new ethos and a changing value system."

He added: "That is the only way a political party can stay well ahead.

"(The new candidates) don't represent the universe of the new generation, but if you look at the younger generation, people are much more interested in causes."

Mr Ng, the father of an 18-month-old girl, said he was keen to join politics as it was "a chance to do more" for both animals and people. In particular, he sees politics as a larger platform to mobilise Singaporeans to volunteer.

Volunteer rates are dropping, he noted, a trend which worries him.

Mr Ng has often found himself on opposing sides with the Government on animal-rights issues, but he said Mr Shanmugam taught him that "change can come from collaboration, not from a fight."