Enabling Masterplan 2012-2016

Five-year roadmap to help the disabled

By Hetty Musfirah, Channel NewsAsia 21 Feb 2012

More initiatives could be rolled out to better integrate and enable people with disabilities.

The steering committee tasked to come up with a new "Enabling Masterplan 2012-2016" submitted its report to Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing, on Tuesday.

The new masterplan contains 41 recommendations to help the disabled.

Following six months of deliberations, the committee decided to adopt a life-cycle approach to help persons with disabilities.

The five-year road map (2012-2016) covers early intervention, education, employment and adult care.

Unlike the current five-year plan which targets education and employment, the new road map places more emphasis on early intervention and improvements for the adult-care sector.

On early intervention, the committee recommended the funding of a nationwide development screening programme for children at the age of nine months, 18 months and 24-30 months.

Currently such screenings are done mostly at polyclinics for children at the age of 9 months and 18 months and when the child is 3 years old.

'Yes, we need retirement villages'

Few housing options for the old in Singapore, says senior-living consultant

By Radha Basu, The Straits Times, 22 Feb 2012

LAST Friday's Budget bestowed a hamper full of goodies on older Singaporeans.

Families caring for the frail elderly are in for a windfall, with more state subsidies for care in community hospitals, nursing homes and even at home. For the first time, even the richest can get state subsidies for stays in community hospitals.

In this 'season of plenty', it may seem politically incorrect to talk about some seniors who feel short-changed about retirement options.

But international senior-living consultant Tan Kee Hian, 57, believes this is as good a time as any to discuss the relative shortage of living choices for Singapore's growing group of more affluent, older folk.

He says many seniors in the top fifth to 20th percentile of the income scale would gladly part with their savings to live in retirement villages (RVs) which offer professional care and support services such as an on-site round-the-clock emergency response system.

While such communities are common in most developed countries, there are none in space-starved Singapore. Both the public and policymakers seem to prefer 'ageing in place' - where people live out their last years in the community rather than in institutions.

But Mr Tan says that while boosting community resources to enable the majority to age in place is a 'basic necessity' here, no one solution can fit the needs of all seniors.

'Ageing in place assumes that everyone has similar needs - and that's a very big assumption. Given the diversity of our First World society, we deserve more choices.'

Ensuring productivity gains benefit all workers

By Tan Di Song & Guo Jiajing, The Straits Times, 20 Feb 2012

THE most direct mechanism by which productivity gains affect living standards is through higher wages.

As such, the extent to which productivity gains translate into wage growth is a pertinent issue. Broadly, the link between productivity and wages has been strong in Singapore. From 2000 to 2010, productivity in Singapore increased by 1.8 per cent per annum while resident real average monthly earnings grew by 1.3 per cent per annum (Exhibit 1).

However, a brief survey of international data suggests that the translation of productivity gains to real wage growth cannot be taken for granted.

Going all out to attract more to social work

Nationwide effort to draw fresh graduates and those eyeing mid-career switch

By Tay Suan Chiang, The Straits Times, 21 Feb 2012

BEFORE he became a social worker in 2004, Mr Lee Seng Meng thought that the job was just about doing voluntary work. But when he took a social work module during his first year at the National University of Singapore, he realised that the scope of the work was more challenging and complex than first thought.

He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in social work.

Mr Lee, 32, is now centre director of Students Care Service in Clementi and specialises in working with young people who may succumb to vices or join gangs because of family or self-esteem reasons.

'The youth are full of potential and it is a pity if they fall through the cracks,' he said.

Elsewhere, social workers - who are accredited and trained formally - work with other individuals or families who face issues such as financial, relationship or domestic violence problems.

With demand for social services increasing, there is a need to attract and retain more social workers. There are currently more than 800 registered practitioners here, with about 200 more places that need to be filled.

'The job is not easy. So we want people who are committed and who have the passion to help others,' said Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing yesterday at the launch of an inaugural nationwide campaign to promote social work as a career of choice.

The ongoing campaign, which includes print and TV advertisements, was rolled out at a tea reception - at the MCYS Building in Thomson Road - for 30 social workers and social work students.

Mr Chan cited the lack of societal recognition for the job and the emotional drain of the work as possible reasons that not many were taking up social work.

There is also a misconception that social workers, like social-work volunteers, are not paid for their work. A social worker who has just graduated can expect to earn $2,550 to $2,750. Mr Chan said the remuneration, compared to similar jobs that serve the needs of others, such as teaching, is 'competitive'.

SCDF Guidelines on corridor clutter welcomed

SCDF guidelines will make life easier for emergency services

By Jalelah Abu Baker, The Straits Times, 20 Feb 2012

TOWN councils could find it easier to persuade HDB residents to remove clutter from common corridors after islandwide guidelines were introduced for the first time.

The rules aim to reduce the number of large objects such as pieces of furniture that are left outside flats.

These can be dangerous as they get in the way of firefighters and paramedics racing to emergencies.

Until now, councils have generally had their own guidelines. The standardised ones were drawn up by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

They state, for example, that no objects should be left in corridors less than 1.2m wide. Smaller items such as clothes racks and potted plants should not be placed on staircase landings.

Members of Parliament and paramedics said they welcome the move because it will make life easier for the emergency services.

Madam Halimah Yacob, MP for Jurong GRC, said town councils often have trouble persuading residents to remove their clutter. Specific guidelines will give weight to their advice, she added.

But Madam Halimah said that despite the guidelines, getting residents to remove items they have left outside their homes for years will remain a challenge. While most will listen, there are bound to be some who will not.

Chicken rice, no skin? Yes, at this 'healthier' coffee shop

HPB to open 19 more such eateries offering less fatty food by year end

By Stacey Chia, The Straits Times, 20 Feb 2012

THE Health Promotion Board (HPB) opened the first healthier coffee shop yesterday now that more people are dining out and obesity rates are rising.

Food King Coffee House in Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 has eight stalls that all serve dishes made with ingredients such as brown rice, wholegrain noodles and less fattening oil.

For instance, a standard order of chicken rice will come without skin and with brown rice mixed in. This means it has 500 calories, compared with about 600 for a regular plate of chicken rice.

Dishes that have been modified will have their calorie count displayed on the menu boards. This is part of the HPB's Healthier Coffee Shop Initiative.

Its chief executive Ang Hak Seng said there will be at least another 19 such coffee shops by the end of the year.

He said many of the stall owners at the new Bukit Batok coffee shop were concerned that switching to healthier ingredients would raise the cost and reduce the taste. So HPB linked stall owners with suppliers who agreed to sell bulk-ordered healthier ingredients at the same price as regular ones. It also advised cooks on how to reduce the fat and salt in their dishes without compromising on taste.

Mr Ang said it had to convince stallholders the change would not hurt their business. 'Many of our food establishments are selling less healthy food, therefore those that sell healthy food will attract Singaporeans who want to adopt a healthy lifestyle and this number is growing,' he said.

Madam Halimah Yacob, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports said the number of Singaporeans dining out was a concern.

'We may be too busy to cook and buy food regularly for ourselves and families from neighbourhood coffee shops, which traditionally sell less healthy fare,' said the MP for Jurong GRC, who was guest of honour at yesterday's opening. 'By working with coffee shops to offer healthier options, we help those among us who don't have time to cook benefit from healthy and nutritious meals.'

Independence for the elderly in group home

Pilot project lets those with no kin live in the community

By Tham Yuen-C, The Straits Times, 20 Feb 2012

SINGAPORE'S first group home for the elderly was officially opened yesterday, after seven residents moved in over the past two weeks.

The pilot project brings together seniors above 65 with little or no family support. They will live in rental flats, each containing two or three people. The aim is to let them live independently within the community instead of being sent to nursing or old people's homes.

'The seniors group homes is actually meant to provide an option to our seniors, who are frail, need support, but yet they should not be living in the nursing homes,' said Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Halimah Yacob. 'You put them in a nursing home, they have no control over their lives. But here they can still continue to do what they like to do, with some support and assistance.'

The idea came after the Ministerial Committee on Ageing visited similar facilities in Britain and the Netherlands, said Madam Halimah.

Residents at the group homes can buy their own food from hawker centres nearby or go for walks. They can also opt to get meals delivered if they do not want to venture out or cook, and there is medical assistance provided by volunteers from the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society.

'This is not a dying place, this is a living space where they will find companionship,' said Mr Lee Kim Siang, chairman of the volunteer welfare organisation. It will manage the flats and an activity room set up for the seniors to socialise.

'The purpose of assisted living in a community setting like this is to encourage them to support each other, to look out for each other and to take part in community activities... we try to encourage the seniors to come out and mingle with the others,' said Madam Halimah.

PM Lee sends lawyer's letter to editors of website

PM Lee sends lawyer's letter to editors of website
By Tessa Wong, The Straits Times, 20 Feb 2012

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday sent a lawyer's letter to the editors of the TR Emeritus (TRE) sociopolitical website, asking for a post alleging cronyism in the appointment of Madam Ho Ching as head of Temasek Holdings to be taken down.

Madam Ho is PM Lee's wife.

He also asked for an apology to be posted on the website by Feb 24, and which must remain on the website for the same number of days as the offending post had been.

In addition, he also wanted the TRE editors to give a written confirmation by Feb 23 that they would comply, failing which he would start legal proceedings against them.

By 10pm last night, the post in question had been taken down.

Mr Richard Wan, the TRE editor to whom the letter was addressed, told The Straits Times last night that he was discussing the matter with other TRE editors, and they would issue a statement by 'around lunch time' today.

One of the editors, he added, is a lawyer who could provide advice on the next steps to take.

Mr Wan himself is a 49-year-old IT consultant who appeared at a public forum on Wednesday last week declaring himself as one of five editors of the website, which is known for views critical of the Government and the ruling party.

Are Singapore's poor better off?

By Rebecca Lim, BBC News, Singapore, 17 Feb 2012

Wan Zaleha smiles as the smell of freshly-brewed coffee permeates the air at a non-profit centre caring for low-income and needy people in Singapore.

For the last six years, from Mondays to Saturdays, the 72-year-old has served as a volunteer, making tea and coffee for residents living in one-room apartments in the neighbourhood.

She lives in one of the one-room apartments - which average 30 sq.m and cost S$23 ($19, £12) to S$205 ($165, £104) a month to rent from the government depending on household income.

She is not employed and receives groceries worth S$70 from individual donors every month.

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos recently that although it was ''no fun'' being poor in Singapore, people were still ''less badly off'' than the poor in other countries, including the US.

The government ensures that ''everybody starts with some chips'' and not at zero, he added, through education, health care and public housing.

He has also promised more help for low-income households in this year's budget, to be delivered at a parliament sitting on Friday.

The thought of poor people in Singapore may seem a disconnect with its reputation as an Asian financial hub, shoppers' haunt and food haven.

And there is truth to what the PM said, social workers, volunteers and professionals told the BBC, albeit with a hint of discomfort.

If one compares the poor in Singapore to those in countries such as India and China, or even the homeless in the US, it is indeed true that the situation here is not as dire, they said.

''But there are still many people in Singapore who need help,'' said Huang Jing Jing, an active community service volunteer for 30 years. ''Some of them are really struggling. You have to see it for yourself to know.''

''Certainly, poverty is not in your face here,'' said Mr Laurence Lien, chief executive officer of the non-profit National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre and a newly-appointed Nominated Member of Parliament. ''But yes, it is happening here.''

Singapore must adapt and learn to manage social diversity: Grace Fu

By Hon Jing Yi, Channel NewsAsia, 18 Feb 2012

Singapore must adapt and learn to manage greater diversity in perspectives, value systems and aspirations.

Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications & the Arts Grace Fu said the challenge of increasing social diversity is likely to become greater as the society evolves.

She highlighted this as one of the challenges Singapore face in its next phase of nation-building.

Ms Fu was speaking at a partnership signing ceremony between SIM University (UniSIM) and the People's Association's leadership development arm (NACLI) on Saturday morning.

She said while diversity makes Singapore a unique melting pot of cultures and heritage, it can only be so if its social fabric is strong.

And there are emerging trends that tug at Singapore's social fabric.

Ms Fu said social media has amplified voices beyond what was attainable in the traditional media. And in an arena that is noisy, some people have attempted to be more extreme and assertive to be heard, at times to an extent that's uncomfortable for the majority.

Hence, she said the task of bonding and bridging these groups will become even more important.

She added that the People's Association and its wide network of 32,000 grassroots leaders will have their work cut out for them in the years ahead.

Another key challenge for Singapore is to connecting youths and the community.

Ms Fu said Singapore needs to continue engaging the young early and build up their community spirit so that they can play a crucial role in creating the country's future.

The third challenge she highlighted is Singapore's ageing population.

There is a need for more programmes, services and facilities to keep senior citizens active, employed and healthy.

Ms Fu said apart from the government, all stakeholders such as community leaders, voluntary and civic groups need to continue to play a role in making the lives of seniors more meaningful.

To overcome the three challenges she's outlined, Ms Fu urged Singaporeans to become active citizens and participate actively in making Singapore better.

Milestone in US-Singapore relations

Strategic Partnership Dialogue elevates discourse and bilateral ties to a higher level

By David Adelman, Published The Sunday Times, 19 Feb 2012

Singapore is often described as a country punching above its weight. And that is certainly true with regard to US-Singapore relations.

Going from strength to strength, recent developments have moved our bilateral relationship up a weight class. A few days ago, I returned from Washington, DC where we launched the US-Singapore Strategic Partnership Dialogue (SPD) during a week when bilateral relations between our two countries received more attention than at any other time in recent history.

The SPD promises to profoundly elevate US-Singapore relations. The United States participates in strategic dialogues with many countries, but few carry the significance of the one launched with Singapore. The Feb1 signing of the SPD by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam gives testament to the strengthening US engagement in Asia that has been on full display over the last few years.

US-Singapore relations are multi-faceted and have historically rested on the twin pillars of security and trade. Leaders in both countries, however, have recognised the need for a third pillar establishing an elevated political and economic dialogue for purposes of ensuring that our mutual interests are protected over the long term.

As the world looks to Asia as an engine for growth and development, new, non-traditional challenges are emerging, including trans-national terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, critical environmental issues including climate change, and the need for preparedness to respond to large-scale disasters. The SPD provides that we will develop mechanisms to address these challenges as well as to proactively cooperate to promote values we share, such as protecting diversity and respecting the rule of law.

Importantly, the SPD also gives us a regular and institutionalised process by which we will discuss cooperation in the emerging Asian architecture, including at the East Asia Summit, with Asean, and at Apec and other regional organisations.

Perhaps the best evidence that the SPD moves the relationship to a new level came in our first meeting when we agreed to jointly extend technical assistance to developing countries, beginning with the Lower Mekong countries. This agreement extends our cooperation regionally, opening new areas of collaboration ranging from public health and education to economic development.

The inaugural meeting also demonstrated that the SPD will result in action. At the SPD signing on Feb1, the United States announced its acceptance of Singapore as a full partner under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The protection of the rights of children and their parents is precisely the type of issue on which close partners should collaborate. An annual dialogue will provide an impetus for bringing outstanding issues such as this to conclusion.

Of course, there was more to the last week in Washington than the SPD. Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat met with US Secretary of Education Arne Ducan and signed a Memorandum of Understanding providing for greater cooperation on educational issues. This important agreement enhances one of the strongest aspects of our relationship, educational exchanges.

Additionally, Second Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran met with US Trade Representative Ron Kirk to discuss progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement negotiations, and in his capacity as the Law Minister, Mr Shanmugam met with US Attorney-General Eric Holder.

The week culminated with a most impressive 'Singapore Conference', hosted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The list of speakers reads like a Who's Who in South-east Asian policy. For an entire day, many of the brightest Singaporean and US officials, thought leaders, business executives and journalists focused on our strategic relations, candidly and critically addressing topics ranging from the political changes taking place in Singapore to cooperation between Singapore and the United States on regional and global priorities.

This was an important week for our relationship, both looking back and moving forward. Years from now, the SPD and the other events of February will be remembered as milestones marking a turning point in the growth of US-Singapore relations.

The writer is the United States Ambassador to Singapore.

Coney Island set to become nature park

By Kezia Toh, The Sunday Times, 19 Feb 2012

Coney Island, off Punggol in the north-west, will be home to Singapore's ninth nature park, said the National Parks Board (NParks).

The island, a popular spot for anglers and rich in natural biodiversity, will become a sprawling 50ha 'green lung'.

Thanks to its rich flora and fauna, Coney Island will be a stand-alone nature park. The other nature parks are typically buffers for nature reserves.

Lush vegetation covers nearly 90 per cent of the island. Wildlife species that have been spotted there include the white-bellied sea eagle, a large bird with a considerable soaring range.

The park is expected to be ready in two years and a tender will be called in the middle of this year.

Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Master Plan 2008, the island was to be a park and an open space.

The time is ripe for a park in the area, said NParks director of parks development Yeo Meng Tong.

'Now that Punggol is an up-and-coming town, it is the right time to develop a nature park there,' he added.

The island is linked by a bridge to Punggol.