ESM Goh Chok Tong: Terror threat closer than Singaporeans think; LKYSPP academics should offer constructive criticism, build trust with govt leaders

ISIS already active in region and individuals here have been self-radicalised, he warns

By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2017

The scourge of terrorism is closer than Singaporeans think, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group is already in Marawi, he noted, and could possibly establish itself in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where Muslim Rohingya refugees are fleeing fighting between the military and militants.

These developments, coupled with the presence of self-radicalised individuals here, means Singaporeans need to prepare themselves for an eventual terrorist attack, he said.

The Home Affairs Ministry had announced the arrests of two Singaporeans under the Internal Security Act a day earlier, the latest in a string of terrorism-related arrests this year.

Speaking at a dialogue to mark the 13th anniversary of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Mr Goh stressed that the real challenge would come after a terror attack.

"What will that mean for race relations - that's No. 1. If as a result of (an attack) race relations become fragile, broken, collapsed, then the terrorists would have achieved their purpose," he said.

He listed terrorism as one of two future challenges Singapore would face, in response to a question during the dialogue at the National University of Singapore.



The other challenge is how to get young Singaporeans to "accept politically", slower growth in their incomes, he said, given that Singapore will no longer see high economic growth of 8 to 9 per cent. This means incomes may grow at a slower rate of 2 to 3 per cent, but salaries will start from a higher base, he added.

"If we can't convince you on that and if you have a change in government, and people think life will get better, I can tell you that life will get worse, very quickly, because the new government still will not be able to produce 5 to 6 per cent growth," he said.

During the hour-long dialogue, Mr Goh spoke candidly on a wide range of issues, often with a dose of humour that drew laughter from the auditorium of 300 students, faculty and alumni.

He also shared personal experiences, like how the 2003 SARS crisis was the most frightening challenge he faced during his tenure as prime minister from 1990 to 2004.



He highlighted the importance of forming personal relationships with other world leaders, citing how he and then United States President Bill Clinton agreed to have the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement following a midnight golf game in Brunei in 2000, after an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting.

Mr Goh, who chairs the LKY School's governing board, also urged the school to find ways to offer added value to the Government in future. "I find that as the Government, I am not getting my money's worth," he quipped, saying the school has to offer alternative viewpoints and shape thinking on policies.

"But unfortunately, the dean will say 'it's very sensitive, you know'," added Mr Goh, to laughter from the audience.

IPS Forum on the Reserved Presidential Election 2017

Reserved elections 'critical as president serves unifying role': Shanmugam
Post may be called into question if president always comes from the same race, says Shanmugam
By Elgin Toh, Insight Editor, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2017

The changes to the elected presidency to ensure multiracial representation are important because of the president's role as a "unifying symbol of the country", Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday.

Without amendments to reserve elections for minorities, this symbolic role may be called into question - especially if "the president, term after term, comes from a single race", he added.

He acknowledged that some Singaporeans do not agree with the idea of reserved elections - but he noticed many would come around after being given the full facts.

Still, this is an issue on which "reasonable people can differ" he said, adding: "The fact that we were able to talk about it, debate it... in a way it helps strengthen the overall multiracial fabric."

Mr Shanmugam was speaking at an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) forum on the reserved presidential election.

He covered a range of issues related to the presidency, including the stricter qualifying criteria for private-sector candidates and how a candidate's race is determined.



His remarks come as Singapore gets ready to elect its next president on Sept 23. Only Malay candidates can take part in this election, under new laws that reserve the election for a community, if no one from that community has been president for the last five terms.

The minister also disclosed the initial plans were to reserve elections for two groups: the Malays, as well as Indian and Other communities. But feedback from the Chinese ground prompted the inclusion of Chinese reserved elections.

"When we discussed it with our MPs, past MPs, the Chinese intelligentsia, the Chinese media, the reaction was quite clear. If you have reservations for the Indians and the Malays, you better have reservation for the Chinese," he said.

On the president's symbolic role, Mr Shanmugam noted it has been part and parcel of the presidency since independence.

RISING50: Indonesia, Singapore mark 50 years of bilateral ties

Two countries are neighbours by geography but partners by choice, says PM Lee
By Francis Chan, Indonesia Bureau Chief, The Straits Times, 8 Sep 2017

Singapore and Indonesia marked 50 years of diplomatic ties at a Leaders' Retreat yesterday by declaring they would remain "trusted partners, RISING together".

While RISING - RI for Republic of Indonesia and SING for Singapore - was coined by diplomats to mark the jubilee, the leaders of the two nations also declared a desire to be friends for the long haul.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his toast at an Istana lunch in honour of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said that while the two countries are neighbours by geography, they are partners by choice, and both are committed to broadening and deepening cooperation.

He noted earlier that generations of leaders from both sides had taken a long-term and win-win approach to cooperate for mutual benefit and solve problems amicably and rationally. "As a result, today we have a strong partnership based on mutual trust and respect," he said.

His words were echoed by President Joko, in Singapore for his second retreat with PM Lee in as many years, as the two leaders look to take ties forward. "We are neighbours by God's will, by geography, but we are and always will be good neighbours and close friends by choice," said Mr Joko. "To this end, it is essential to always ensure that our next 50 years of cooperation is one that is based on mutual trust and mutual confidence, and brings equal and mutual benefit to our peoples."



The leaders held a "four-eye" meeting before a high-powered Indonesian delegation sat down with their Singapore counterparts for bilateral talks yesterday morning.

Mr Lee said he and Mr Joko had a "good meeting", and believes their countries can do more together.

"Our bilateral relationship can only continue to deepen and benefit our two peoples if it is supported by close rapport between the leaders," he said. "I am therefore glad that President Jokowi and I have a constructive working relationship."

The leaders also noted the strong existing cooperation in trade, investment and tourism, and affirmed both sides' readiness to start talks on a new Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Mr Lee said at a joint press conference earlier that he appreciated Mr Joko's personal efforts in tackling forest and land fires, and expressed Singapore's commitment to work with Indonesia to address the transboundary haze issue as well as on counter-terrorism.

On regional cooperation, Mr Joko reiterated the importance of the two countries in ASEAN. They were two of the five founding members when ASEAN was formed in 1967.

Singapore faces a grim labour future as population ages rapidly: Oxford Economics

Singapore faces double whammy in labour supply: Study

By Jacqueline Woo, The Straits Times, 7 Sep 2017

Singapore has the most to fear from an ageing population among Asia-Pacific nations, according to a new study.

It noted yesterday that the country faces a double whammy: a shrinking workforce coupled with slower progress than its Asian neighbours in getting more people into the labour market.

The report by Oxford Economics said Singapore's labour supply will shrink by 1.7 percentage point in the 10 years through 2026, and by 2.5 percentage points in the following decade, after accounting for changes to the participation rate.

This will make the country the worst hit out of a dozen economies in the report, even though it was Japan that has recorded the biggest workforce decline over the past 10 years.

The report said almost all Asian nations will face demographic challenges over the next two decades, while policy measures or efforts to boost labour participation rates - such as by drawing more women or the elderly into the workforce - will only partially limit the impact.

Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea came up the worst on a metric that looked at the amount by which the decline in growth of the working-age population cannot be offset by higher labour participation rates.

The massive decline expected in Singapore's working-age population growth from 2027 will be due in part to less immigration after a recent policy shift, added the report.

It will take a while before the pain affects some countries. Thailand's workforce, for instance, will barely shrink over the next 10 years, but is expected to drop by 1.1 percentage point each year in the decade after.

Tan Chuan-Jin to be Speaker of Parliament from 11 Sep 2017

Tan Chuan-Jin elected as Singapore's 10th Speaker of Parliament

Tan Chuan-Jin to become new Speaker of Parliament, Desmond Lee to helm Ministry of Social and Family Development
By Toh Yong Chuan, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 6 Sep 2017

A member at the core of the fourth-generation political leadership, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, 48, will be the new Speaker of Parliament.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will nominate him for the post when the House sits on Monday (11 Sep).

The decision, PM Lee said yesterday in a Facebook post, was a very difficult one as it meant "losing an effective and activist minister".

But he said Mr Tan stood out as the best choice for the post vacated by Madam Halimah Yacob, 63, who resigned on Aug 7 to contest this month's presidential election.

"It was not easy to find a suitable replacement," PM Lee said. "As Speaker, Chuan-Jin will have to preside over parliamentary debates and ensure fair and full discussion of national issues. Chuan-Jin has the temperament and personality for this role." He added: "Chuan-Jin remains an important member of my team, though in a different role."

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement: "PM Lee has briefed PAP MPs on his nomination and received their full support."

Many Singaporeans were surprised by the move, and Dr Gillian Koh of the Institute of Policy Studies noted that many expected a senior backbencher to fill the post.

Mr Tan will resign as Minister for Social and Family Development, as the Speaker cannot be elected from among MPs who are office holders.

Taking over the ministry's helm from Monday is Mr Desmond Lee, 41, who will remain Second Minister for National Development.

Mr Tan said he was glad to accept PM Lee's nomination and hoped fellow MPs would support it. He said: "Good ideas can come from both sides of the House, as does good intent. In fact, they abound throughout the length and breadth of our society. Our duty must be to harness these for the common good."

Enterprise Singapore: IE Singapore, SPRING to merge and form new agency to help firms develop capacity, go global

Enterprise Singapore, from merger of SPRING and IE Singapore, will allow firms to grow faster
By Yasmine Yahya, Assistant Business Editor, The Straits Times, 6 Sep 2017

As companies no longer have the luxury of learning to walk at home before running overseas, the Government has set up a new agency to speed up their growth process.

Enterprise Singapore, born by merging International Enterprise Singapore with SPRING Singapore, will help local firms bulk up and go global fast in this era of disruption.

The merger, which kicks in next year, will combine IE's expertise in helping companies venture overseas with SPRING's skills in developing capacity, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran said yesterday at the official opening of the Singapore Business Federation's (SBF) new Robinson Road office.

"With tighter domestic constraints, external demand will be an even more important driver of growth," he noted.

"Our companies must be able to respond nimbly to political and economic shifts, shorter technology cycles and business model disruptions. They must have extensive networks internationally, superior capabilities, innovative products and strong brands to compete in this globalised digital economy."

Enterprise Singapore will be able to support local firms in these efforts, Mr Iswaran said.

It could, for example, give a manufacturing firm a grant to raise its production capacity, while developing an export strategy for its increased output.

Start-ups will not only benefit from the capability development support that SPRING has been providing, but also be plugged into IE's international networks, he said.

IPPT for Seniors: Fitness test for seniors to gauge frailty, health risks

Seniors take 'IPPT' to ward off health crises
Tests gauge strength, flexibility and balance; detect risks that could land them in hospital
By Linette Lai, The Straits Times, 5 Sep 2017

If getting grandma to run 2.4km is out of the question, get her to try the 10m walk instead.

A team of local experts has come up with an "IPPT" for seniors, similar to the Individual Physical Proficiency Test for the uniformed services.

Called IPPT-S, or IPPT for Seniors, the test has nine stations - to measure flexibility, strength and balance. These include a modified sit and reach, as well as grip strength and walking tests.



The set of tests is being used as a screening tool to pick up frail, elderly people before health crises, such as falls, land them in hospital.

It was developed by a team of doctors and allied health professionals from Singapore General Hospital and Sengkang General Hospital.



As people age, their bodies deteriorate and become more frail, said Associate Professor Ng Yee Sien, who is a rehabilitation physician at both hospitals.

This may manifest as feelings of weakness or exhaustion, or even significant weight loss over the course of a year. "But the progression is very subtle and hard to pick up," Prof Ng said. "It's difficult to recognise until the occurrence of a crisis."

Often, this results in the person being admitted to hospital. It can be a long time before he returns to full health.

Singapore to cut workplace fatality rate to below 1 per 100,000 workers by 2028

Plan to halve workplace fatalities
By Toh Yong Chuan, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 4 Sep 2017

Singapore aims to reduce workplace fatalities to less than one death per 100,000 workers in 10 years' time.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the new target yesterday, saying it can be achieved through the three-way partnership between the Government, employers and unions; as well as by encouraging companies to use technology to improve safety.

The current target of 1.8 deaths per 100,000 workers was set in 2008, and achieved in 2014, but the rate crept up to 1.9 in 2015 and last year.



Singapore saw five deaths per 100,000 workers back in 2004, Mr Lee noted at the official opening of the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work yesterday.

But a comprehensive series of measures, including a new Workplace Safety and Health Act introduced in 2006, helped bring down the rate to 1.9 last year, he said.

The new target will put Singapore on a par with countries such as the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden and Finland, which have workplace fatality rates of below one death per 100,000 workers. "We will have to work hard, but I am confident that we can achieve the new target," Mr Lee said.

Moving to workplace health, he added: "The prevalence of work-place illnesses and chronic conditions is itself a problem that should be addressed." He cited conditions like hearing loss and respiratory diseases, which "can be prevented with a little bit of effort".

But even as the Government continues to introduce new rules and incentives to nudge companies to make workplaces safer, Mr Lee made it plain that more regulation alone will not solve the problem.

Ultimately, companies should take a holistic approach to workplace safety and health. "It is impractical to add new regulations each time there is a workplace accident," he said. "Beyond a point, more rules will result in heavier burdens, but not greater safety."

St John's Island launches first curated trail, guided tours

Wildlife, history part of new trail on St John's Island
2.8km trail has signboards and covers various ecosystems such as mangroves, coastal forests
By Kok Xing Hui, The Sunday Times, 3 Sep 2017

Primary school pupil Leah Thorpe, 11, spent yesterday morning walking around St John's Island with her mother and sister, listening to stories about the island's history, habitats and wildlife.

The family was one of the first to walk along a new island trail curated by the National Parks Board (NParks).

Leah's mother, housewife Olivia Tay, 47, said the tour was very informative, while Leah piped up that her favourite part of the trail was the pufferfish in the mangrove exhibit.

"And the kapok trees, the bugs and the cats along the way," she said.

NParks launched the island trail yesterday. It is 2.8km long with signboards along the trail to tell visitors about the island.

The trail's 15 stations take visitors through various ecosystems on the island, including mangroves, coastal forests and intertidal zones. Wildlife in the area include hawksbill turtles, Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins, great-billed herons and many heritage trees.

At the launch, Second Minister for National Development and Home Affairs Desmond Lee said he was happy about this development on St John's Island, which is located about 6.5km south of the main island of Singapore.

"The centre of gravity of our conservation approach cannot be to keep people away from nature. Instead, we want to instil a sense of wonder and appreciation among Singaporeans for our green and blue areas," he said.



Alongside the trail is a new volunteer-run guided walk that will take 45 guests around St John's Island on a 90-minute tour. This will be on the first weekend of every month, starting from next month.

Meanwhile, exhibits at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park Public Gallery on St John's Island - once a quarantine centre for new migrants with infectious diseases - have also been given a new lease of life.

Food waste: Food for thought for students

10 schools join move to cut waste by turning it into compost; assembly talks on topic held
By Samantha Boh, The Straits Times, 2 Sep 2017

As he slid plastic gloves onto his hands, 11-year-old Ray Yap inspected the large containers of dirty plates, bowls and cutlery lined up beside him on trolleys.

Then he frowned. He had spotted a plate with leftover food on it.

Ray had been tasked with an important mission a month ago: help his school Greendale Primary cut its food waste.

That plate reminded him that he needed to redouble his efforts at the next recess starting at 9.45am.

For the next half-hour, Ray and his friends Kellyn Loh, 10, and Triparna Poddar, 11, stationed themselves beside the plastic containers, reminding pupils to dump their leftovers into special green bins.



The three pupils, members of the environmental science club, held the bins open for their peers, and even helped to pick up food which had fallen on the floor.

The leftover food will later be turned into compost using a food-waste digester, in a process that takes about 10 hours.

Greendale Primary's environmental education adviser, Mr Edwin Chee, 41, a science teacher, said the school started a food-waste reduction programme last month.

It is among 10 primary and secondary schools that were leased food-waste digesters by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for two years under the Love Your Food @ Schools Project. The machines were installed in May.

Food waste accounts for about 10 per cent of the total waste generated in Singapore, but only 14 per cent is recycled.

Last year, more than 790,000 tonnes of food was wasted - equivalent to two bowls of rice per person a day.

Solar-ready roofs for new HDB blocks

18 projects earmarked so far for redesigned rooftops that will ease solar panel installation
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 2 Sep 2017

The Housing Board is reaffirming its commitment to promote sustainable living by redesigning the roofs of new blocks so solar panels can be more easily installed.

As of now, 18 projects have been earmarked, including ongoing projects in Punggol, Bidadari and Bukit Batok.

The HDB, with its stock of 10,000 blocks, is a prime candidate to harness solar energy. It said yesterday new blocks with at least 400 sq m of rooftop space will be "solar-ready". Essential block services like water tanks will be situated to optimise available rooftop space, and support structures and electrical infrastructure for the panels will be catered for.

It will also review other projects currently under construction to see if solar-ready roofs can be incorporated into their designs.

The redesigned rooftops eliminate the necessity for further renovation, reducing the time taken for panels to be installed from 40 days to 25. The cost of installation is also about 40 per cent less.

The HDB has pledged to install solar panels in 5,500 blocks by 2020. This would generate clean energy to power 55,000 four-room flats, or 5.5 per cent of the total number of flats, every year. Carbon emissions will also be cut by 132,500 tonnes a year.

As of July, 944 HDB blocks have had solar panels fitted on their roofs that fully power common services for the estates, like lifts and water pumps. Excess solar energy is channelled to the national electrical grid. Currently, there is enough to power about 10,000 four-room flats each year.

Enhanced Screen for Life starts 1 Sep 2017; 1.8 million Singaporeans to get letters on cheap health screening

Those eligible pay $5 at most to get tested for up to five diseases

By Salma Khalik, Senior Health Correspondent, The Straits Times, 31 Aug 2017

Letters are being sent out in batches to 1.8 million Singaporeans aged 40 years and older, inviting them to go for health screening for up to five diseases by paying $5 at most. All the letters will be sent out by the year end.

The Enhanced Screen for Life, announced by Senior Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat during the parliamentary debate on his ministry's Budget in March this year, starts tomorrow.

Under it, all eligible people can be screened for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Woman can be screened for cervical cancer, and people aged 50 years and older can test for colorectal cancer.

The screening, which is free for pioneers, costs $2 for those with the Community Health Assist Scheme card, and $5 for others. The screening includes a consultation with a doctor when the results are known, and can be done at more than 1,000 general practice clinics in the scheme.

Mr Chee told The Straits Times: "The aim of enhancing Screen For Life is to encourage Singaporeans to go for regular health screening, so that any problems can be detected early and better managed with appropriate intervention.

"Together with healthy eating and regular exercise, this is part of our collective efforts to keep Singaporeans healthy and lower the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases."