RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI. The key highlights are: 1) Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announces Budget 2019, which focuses on investing in a skilled workforce, building deep enterprise capabilities and strengthening the national social fabric. 2) NIE has developed a new guide “Supporting children in their transition to Primary 1: A guide for teachers and parents in Singapore”. Link to guide: http://bit.ly/fromK2toP1 3) Updates to the progressive wage model (PWM) for the landscape sector mean that workers will get a bonus and wage boost. We hope that you find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.

1. February 2019
Sources: The Straits Times (ST), The Sunday Times, Berita Harian (BH),
Berita Minggu (BM), Ministry of Finance (MOF) Budget 2019

2. What is RPD Bites?
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local
mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is
compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The ‘Food For Thought’ section seeks to raise thought-provoking
questions to stimulate discussion, with the hope of complementing our efforts to
support the Malay/Muslim community as a whole.
RPD Bites begins with an article count across the different media sources, including
the number of articles that fall within four main areas: (1) Education, (2) Economy, Employability &
Digitalisation, (3) Social and (4) Malay/Muslim Affairs. Other salient areas for the month are also
highlighted. It then delves into emerging themes and trends observed, before culminating in a
‘Food For Thought’ section.
We welcome any feedback or comments you might
have. You can reach us at RPD@mendaki.org.sg
2

3. Overall Coverage
 A total of 270 articles were collated. The Governance (109 articles) category occupies the top
spot in terms of article count with coverage on Budget 2019, followed by the Social (65 articles)
category. The Education (48 articles) and Economy & Employabiluty (37 articles) categories
come next.
36
29
39
3
70
12
8
26
8
39
48
37
65
11
Education Economy, Employability &
Digitalisation
Social Malay/Muslim Affairs Governance
No. of Articles
ST BH/BM Total
3

4. Overall Coverage
Economy, Employability & Digitalisation
Employment Economy Employability
 The Economy, Employability & Digitalisation
category covers articles on Economy (16),
Employability (14) and Employment (7).
 The Social category covers articles on Family &
Youths (22), Community (19), Housing (10),
Elderly (8), and Health (6).
Social
Community Elderly Family & Youths Health Housing
4

5. Key Themes & News Highlights
Based on Coverage

6. Budget 2019
6
 Finance Minster Heng
Swee Keat announced that
the Government expects an
overall budget surplus of
$9.6 billion, or 2.1 per
cent of GDP, for the 2017
financial year (ST, 19 Feb).
 Surplus is markedly
higher than the $1.9
billion forecast a year
ago, mainly because of
“exceptional” Statutory
Board contributions of $4.6
billion.
Source: Ministry of Finance

7. Budget 2019
 At a feedback session organised by REACH, Second Minister for Finance and Education Indranee
Rajah stressed that Budget 2019 has set aside money not just for short-term, but also long-term
needs (ST, 22 Feb).
• It highlights plans to transform businesses through embracing technology and lifelong learning, as
part of long-term efforts to restructure the economy.
• Questions by participants include why the benefits of the Merdeka Generation Package were not
means-tested. There were those who also asked why the Government is setting aside 30 per
cent of total expenditure this year for defence, security and building good relations with
neighbouring countries and major powers.
 Lawrence Loh, Director of Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations at NUS Business
School, stated that Budget 2019 is even less a specific “Budget speech” than a broader “Investment
speech” dominantly along three key thrusts:
1. Investment in Singapore's structural framework for enterprise development;
2. Investment in the development of worker skills;
3. Investment on the national social fabric and strengthening societal cohesiveness (ST, 21 Feb).
7
Reactions to Budget

8. Budget 2019
 Vikram Khanna, Associate Editor at The Straits Times, highlighted the $6.1 billion to be spent for the
Merdeka Generation Package. He stated that, compared with the Pioneer Generation, the Merdeka
Generation is better educated, enjoyed more of the best years of Singapore's economic growth as well
as increases in asset values, earned more and saved more (ST, 19 Feb).
• Since the Merdeka Generation is diverse – including business tycoons, well-heeled
professionals, middle-class people, as well as blue-collar and low-income workers –, he argued
that “the package could be made more progressive by giving bigger benefits to its lower and
middle-income members than to those more affluent”.
• He also stated that, while the Budget flags the key medium-term challenge of climate change, it
“contains no measures to address Singapore's demographic challenge, which is at least as
urgent. In the absence of immigration, and barring a sudden increase in fertility rates (which
seems improbable), Singapore would be at risk of moving into an era of chronically low
economic growth – unless productivity keeps rising and remains high, which is also improbable.”
 Dr Jeremy Lim, Partner of health and life sciences practice for Asia-Pacific at Oliver Wyman, highlighted
that while the Budget puts aside $6.1 billion for the Merdeka Generation, younger Singaporeans facing
disrupted careers and uncertainties of a gig economy may accumulate lower CPF balances and need
even more help with healthcare financing than past generations (ST, 21 Feb).
8
Reactions to Budget

9. Budget 2019
 In response, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said to
look at the Government’s total social spending each year, rather
than the amount spent on such packages. While some have called for
a universal welfare scheme, he said the Government has opted for a
targeted approach that helps society’s most vulnerable (ST, 24 Feb).
 Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat rebutted Workers’ Party chief
Pritam Singh’s remark that some see the $6.1 billion Merdeka
Generation Package set aside for those born in the 1950s as being
timed to coincide with the election. He reasoned that such
schemes cannot be rolled out at the start of the Government’s five-
year term as surpluses need to be earned, accumulated and put
aside to fund healthcare and other benefits (ST, 27 Feb).
9
Reactions to Budget
 Teo You Yenn, Associate professor and head of sociology at NTU: “The MGP [Merdeka Generation
Package], for yet another cohort of Singaporeans entering into retirement age, signals persistent
unmet needs that mass education, near-universal housing ownership, and mandatory savings from
wages, did not once and for all resolve for everyone... It follows that we require a more systematic
and durable solution than another one-time fix aimed crudely at a single age cohort.” (ST, 22 Feb)

10. Budget 2019
10
Budget Debate (Labour MPs)
 Getting the Singaporean workforce to be more “future-proof” amid technological and economic
disruptions will be a key focus for MPs in the Budget 2019 debate (ST, 26 Feb).
 In response to questions on the decision to lower the Dependency Ratio Ceiling in 2020 and 2021 for the
service industry, Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat acknowledges that it will be painful for some firms but
decision was made in bid to avoid sociopolitical problems that can arise if the country does not control
the number of foreign workers (ST, 27 Feb).
 Labour MP Heng Chee How has called for greater efforts to tap Singapore’s “latent working population” by
matching people with caregiving responsibilities to part-time jobs. He believes that getting caregivers to work
will help solve the current “structural mismatch” between the demand and supply for manpower,
indicating that a change is overdue in the labour market which “has long been based on the full-time staffing
model” (ST, 27 Feb).
 Nominated MP Douglas Foo argued that policymakers would be better off joining forces with government
agencies, unions and business leaders to solve problems instead of relying so much on legislation. He
warned that an over-reliance on the law-making process – evident in recent calls for rules on wages, elderly
care and flexible work arrangements – may not be the best way forward (ST, 27 Feb).
• Other MPs called for company owners to rethink how business is done beyond just adopting technology
and automation.

11. Education
 Researchers call for more emotional support and fewer worksheets and spelling tests for children
when they move from pre-school to primary school. Their advice is in a new guide from the National
Institute of Education (NIE), for parents and teachers to make the transition to P1 easier, and which has
been distributed to pre-schools and educators (ST, 7 Feb).
 In a Straits Times article discussing the benefits of coding classes for pre-schoolers, some argue that
coding is basic digital literacy and it is never too early to introduce coding to young children because
even children who cannot read or spell can grasp the logic of coding through symbols (ST, 25 Feb).
• Others say problem-solving concepts are more important, and that for children aged six and
below, it is only realistic to teach computational thinking concepts instead of the actual
programming or coding tool that is too complex for five-to six-year-olds to grasp (ST, 25 Feb).
 Mutual respect and trust are the foundation of a new set of MOE guidelines on how parents and
schools can work together for a child's benefit, including points on how parents and schools can
cooperate to help children pick up self-management skills, build resilience and take responsibility and
ownership of their learning (ST, 17 Feb).
Guidelines for Parents & Educators
11

12. Education
 Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that, as Singapore broadens its education
system, parenting also needs to evolve – “Kids need a mix of high expectations set for them and
encouragement to think independently, think originally and develop their own interests”. Citing
studies in the US on the trend of “helicopter parenting”, such behaviour – where parents hover
unnecessarily over their children – has long-term psychological side-effects on children (ST, 16 Feb).
 Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said that by the year end, marking for all GCE exams would be
shifted online, so there should be less concern about losing scripts. In time to come, students could
take more examinations on digital devices instead of writing essays by hand (ST, 12 Feb).
 Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said, forty years after being set up, Special Assistance Plan (SAP)
schools still have a role in Singapore, to help ensure that each cohort has a core group with an intuitive
understanding of Chinese culture and history, with language skills close to those in China, Taiwan or
Hong Kong (ST, 23 Feb).
• While this is important in the context of a fast-growing China, which is SG’s largest trading
partner, he said that Malay and Tamil learning should be enhanced as well, with
Indonesia, Malaysia and India also offering tremendous opportunities.
Parenting and Shifts in Education System
12

13. Education
 12 schools have piloted subject-based banding (SBB), which was introduced in 2014 to allow N(A) and
N(T) students who score at least an A for English, mathematics, science or mother tongue at PSLE to take
the corresponding subject at the Express level. N(T) students who score B or C can take the subject at the
N(A) level (ST, 13 Feb).
 N(A) students from the pilot “performed comparably” with their peers from the O-Level cohort in
last year’s exams, with 90 per cent achieving passes. Another 90 per cent of N(T) students who took
subjects at the higher N(A) level achieved passes in those subjects last year.
 Scheme has been rolled out to all schools offering the N(A) and N(T) courses. According to latest
MOE figures, 60 per cent of N(T) students and 40 per cent of N(A) students in Sec 1 last year
took subjects at a higher level.
 Teachers highlighted how the scheme plays to students’ strengths, and gives them a better chance to
qualify for the polytechnics’ foundation courses.
 Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said that to “blur the lines between education streams”, MOE has put
in place measures such as subject-based banding, where students in Normal streams can take subjects at
a higher academic level, and the Polytechnic Foundation Programme. Sorting students by their ability has
led to better educational outcomes, but he acknowledged that streaming may come at the expense of
students in the Normal streams losing confidence (ST, 20 Feb).
Subject-Based Banding
13

14. Education
 Of the 7,800 undergraduates admitted to NUS last year, about 1,200 were polytechnic graduates.
Number is likely to rise further this year, with the university launching a special admission scheme for
those demonstrating entrepreneurship abilities. Five polys here will each nominate up to 40 such
students under special scheme (ST, 9 Feb).
• From the new academic year starting in August, NUS students will also be able to design their
own module, including how they learn and who they learn from, for one portion of their curriculum
under the optional Design-Your-Own-Module initiative.
• Those who do not meet NUS admission requirements will be considered under the Aptitude-
Based (Discretionary) Admissions Scheme.
 NTU announced that for 40 of its 111 undergraduate programmes adopting the broader criteria this
year, shortlisted applicants will undergo a “qualitative assessment” that will include interviews, aptitude
tests and portfolios (ST, 16 Feb).
• For the remaining 71 programmes, interviews will also be conducted for high potential candidates
who may fall slightly short of the entry score for a degree course, or for those considered
based on talent in fields such as arts and sports, under the discretionary admissions scheme.
University Admissions Requirements
14

15. Education
 More undergraduates will be able to take up
computing-related programmes at SMU and NTU
from August this year (ST, 26 Feb).
• SMU will be offering two new computing-
related degree progs: computer science, and
computing and law.
• NTU has allocated 675 places for its 10
computing-related undergraduate progs
this academic year, and will offer two new
double majors, including mathematical and
computer sciences.
 In related news, fresh university graduates earned a
higher starting pay last year, with those in the IT
sector posting the highest rates for full-time
permanent jobs. 81.2% of new grads found full-
time permanent work in 2018, up from 78.4% in
2017 (ST, 27 Feb).
New University Computing-Related Courses
15

16. Education
 NUS students will get the opportunity of learning from top executives who have experience working
around the world through the new NUS Global Mentorship Programme. Students will be accepted
based on whether there is a good fit between their interests and the mentors' expertise (ST, 5 Feb).
 The Business China Internship Programme to support Singapore students pursuing opportunities
in China will be implemented this year. Business China will set up an online portal to publish a list of
firms with internships available in both countries (ST, 7 Feb).
Portfolio-Building
 Experts highlight that universities should push for business courses
to include modules on sustainability, which is about meeting
present needs without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs. These programmes will help
students learn how the business world impacts areas such as the
environment, economy and society (ST, 25 Feb).
16

17. Education
 Students who sat the GCE A-level examination last year achieved the best passing rate since the
curriculum was revised in 2006 (ST, 23 Feb).
• Of the 13,042 students who took the exams as school candidates, 12,170 students, or 93.3 per
cent, achieved at least three H2 passes and a pass in General Paper or Knowledge and
Inquiry. The rate is a 0.3 percentage point improvement on the 93 per cent rate achieved by the
2017 cohort.
GCE ‘A’ Level Results
 Students with an A-level certificate who want to further their studies at
the polytechnic can apply for course exemptions, potentially shaving
six months off three-year diploma programmes (ST, 16 Feb).
• A-level students can apply for a place in August. If they secure
a place and the exemption, they can start their diploma studies
in the second semester in October.
17

18. Economy & Employment
18
 Singapore attracted $10.9 billion in fixed-asset investment, exceeding the predicted range of $8
billion to $10 billion, with electronics accounting for close to 30 per cent. Self-driving cars bearing a
“Made in Singapore” stamp are among initiatives that could add to this push (ST, 15 Feb).
 The European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement can now be ratified and entered into force.
Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S. Iswaran said that “Singapore and EU companies, in particular
our small and medium-sized enterprises, can look forward to significant benefits from the reduction of
tariff and non-tariff barriers” (ST, 14 Feb).
Economic & Employment Trends
 The Manpower Ministry (MOM) showed that unemployment fell in 2018
and retrenchments dropped to a six-year low. The typical Singaporean
in full-time work earned more last year, with median income – including
employer contributions to the Central Provident Fund – rising 3.3 per
cent year on year to $4,183 as of June (ST, 1 Feb).
 MOM statistics showed that employed Singaporeans and permanent
residents worked an average of 43 hours a week last year, down from
from 43.2 hours in 2017. Fall was due to a slight decrease in hours
among people working full time, as well as a rising share of part-timers in
the workforce (ST, 1 Feb).

19. Economy & Employment
19
 The e-commerce boom is reshaping delivery
sector in Singapore. According to a 2018 study by
Google and Temasek, Singapore’s e-commerce
market, which stood at US$1.8 billion (S$2.43
billion) last year, is predicted to grow to US$5
billion by 2025. Courier services, such as Ninja
Van, are also finding ways to beat the manpower
crunch and reduce missed deliveries (ST, 25 Feb).
 NTUC has taken steps to set up “training
committees” that identify the types of training and
skills workers will need to keep up with the
transformation of the industries they are in, to help
nurture what he termed as “Worker 4.0” (ST, 27
Feb).
Sectoral Developments

20. Economy
20
 The median monthly income per household member rose to $2,792 last year, 3.4 per cent more on a
dollar basis or a 3 per cent increase after taking inflation into account, according to the latest household
income figures. Families with at least one working member saw real median employment income grow
by 2.6 per cent to $9,293 last year (ST, 14 Feb).
Rising median monthly income
20

21. Employment
 The labour movement will look at ways to increase the employment rates of middle-aged
women, many of whom indicated in a survey last year that they do not look for work because of
caregiving duties. In order to do that, NTUC said it will consider the types of eldercare services
in the community that need to be provided and how they can be funded (ST, 16 Feb).
 Calculations by The Straits Times estimated that five out of every 100 people with disabilities
here are employed. At 4.9 per cent, the rate is one of the lowest among developed societies (ST,
11 Feb).
 The Government said that an employment quota to get more people with disabilities into the
workforce will not work in Singapore. MSF stated that such a system would introduce labour
market inflexibility and invite competing calls for quotas for other segments of the workforce, such
as for ethnic minorities (ST, 11 Feb).
• Employment quotas for the disabled have been imposed by a number of countries, from
Japan and South Korea to Thailand and most of the European Union. In Singapore, those
with disabilities comprise just 0.55 per cent of the resident labour force, according to
MSF in 2017.
Suggestions to Improve Employment Rates
21

22. Employability
22
 Reflecting the Government’s increased support for the pre-school sector, mid-career entrants enrolled
in professional early childhood certificate or diploma courses have increased by more than 70 per
cent over the last five years (ST, 19 Feb).
 A survey by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) of about 3,500 people found that more than eight in 10
Singaporeans who attended SkillsFuture-funded courses last year found that their training helped
them in their work. About 146,000 Singaporeans started using their SkillsFuture Credit in 2018,
bringing the total number to about 431,000 since it was launched in January 2016 (ST, 12 Feb).
Employability Trends
 The Professional Conversion Programme for Physiotherapists
(Accelerated) offered by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
has been launched (ST, 10 Feb).
• Starting in Sep, it is aimed at mid-career locals who already
have a science-related degree, including exercise and sports
sciences and life sciences.

23. Social
23
 A slew of measures will be rolled out over two years to help Singaporeans who care for the old, the sick
and the disabled. Aid ranging from new grant to respite care services to be rolled out over two years.
By 2030, one in four Singapore residents will be 65 and older, and informal caregiving arrangements will
grow as the population ages (ST, 14 Feb).
Supporting Vulnerable Groups
Source: The Straits Times

24. Social
24
 A law which aims to support children exposed to abuse, neglect or risk could be extended to
cover young offenders from the age of 16 until they turn 18. It supports children who have
committed offences, those who have been abused or neglected by their parents or caregivers,
and those whose parents are seeking the court's guidance to improve their behaviour (ST, 9
Feb).
• Amendment would allow young offenders, who may lack the cognitive maturity of adults,
to benefit from more age-appropriate and rehabilitation-focused options provided by
the community and residential facilities. The move would also protect the identity and
privacy of the young offenders to better facilitate their reintegration into society.
 People who commit crimes against vulnerable victims, such as maids and disabled persons, will
receive twice the maximum punishment for similar crimes against others under the new
Criminal Law Reform Bill introduced in Parliament (ST, 12 Feb).
• The Bill, put before the House by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin
Amin, also widens the coverage of those considered vulnerable to include children
younger than 14.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups

25. Social
25
 Singaporeans on the ComCare Long-Term Assistance Scheme, also known as the Public Assistance scheme, can look
forward to a higher monthly cash sum. For instance, a two-person household will receive an extra $130 a month – from
$870 to $1,000 a month. MSF reported 4,409 households on the scheme last year, with its recipients being mostly
elderly singles who live alone (ST, 19 Feb).
• Government will also increase the sums for those on the government pension scheme, Singapore Allowance,
who draw pensions of less than $1,230 a month – raising the allowance and the monthly pension ceiling by $20
each, to $320 and $1,250 a month, respectively (ST, 19 Feb).
• The Public Transport Fund will also be topped up by $10 million. Eligible lower-income families will get vouchers to
defray their transport expenses (ST, 19 Feb).
 Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee stated that between 14,000 and 16,000 households received
ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance (SMTA) at any time between 2015 and 2017. He added that while five-
year data was not available, about 25 per cent of households among those whose SMTA ended in 2016 reapplied and
received it within 12 months (ST, 19 Feb).
• Median monthly assistance quantum that a household on SMTA received was about $400, and the median
duration of assistance in a year was about six months (ST, 19 Feb).
• These figures exclude other forms of government assistance and subsidies that households could be
receiving, such as Medifund for medical expenses, subsidised rental housing, financial assistance for school fees,
or childcare subsidies (ST, 19 Feb).
ComCare Assistance

26. Social
26
 The number of children who found adoptive parents here last year was the highest in almost a
decade, as more couples suffer from fertility problems and become more open to adoption. Preliminary
figures from MSF showed that there were 432 adoption applications in 2018, 15 per cent more than
the 375 in 2017. About 20 applications a year come from singles (ST, 10 Feb).
Increase in Adoption

27. Social
27
 Prime Minister Lee stated that beneficiaries of the Merdeka Generation Package will extend beyond
the 500,000 Singaporeans born in the 1950s, Some of those who did not qualify for the Pioneer
Generation Package will also receive help for their healthcare needs (ST, 3 Feb).
 Older workers at 15 hawker centres, including hawkers, cleaners and shopkeepers, will enjoy free
health checks and health coaching at their workplaces as part of an expanded programme launched by
the Health Promotion Board (HPB). Health Chats @ Hawker Centres, which was piloted in five hawker
centres last year, will be rolled out to another 10 by March 2020 (ST, 1 Feb).
 There are about 300 delivery riders aged 60 and above, a growing group of seniors that make up 1 per
cent to 2 per cent of the companies' delivery fleet who want to stay active and augment their retirement
income. More can be done to strengthen their digital literacy, either by offering specific courses to
seniors on how they can use such mobile apps more effectively, or Workforce Singapore can work with
seniors to tap the availability of such jobs (ST, 7 Feb).
 Standard Chartered Bank and volunteering body RSVP S'pore have signed an MOU to build a pool of
volunteer trainers for a nationwide expansion of a pre-dementia programme. Trainers will help
conduct health talks and mindfulness practices, as well as simple physical exercises. There will also be a
pilot inter-generational volunteering programme involving seniors and youth to support the less
privileged (ST, 15 Feb).
Initiatives for Seniors

28. Social
28
 The National Healthcare Group has been
“quietly winning its fight against diabetes”
(ST, 25 Feb).
• Although number of diabetes patients it
cares for is still going up, it has been
able to slow the increase. This is both
in terms of new patients as well as
existing patients who suffer
complications or die.
War Against Diabetes & Mental Health
 President Mdm Halimah Yaacob said the issue of mental health has to be tackled through a multi-
pronged approach, adding that the community has an important role to play. She mentioned that
art therapy, group therapy and sports help in the healing process, and such programmes need to
be more accessible and affordable to the youth. She highlighted that “our society is filled with a
lot of ignorance about mental health” due to a lack of conversation on it (ST, 26 Feb).

29. Social
29
 A surge in the number of abusers of new
psychoactive substances (NPS) drove up the
overall arrest rate for drug abusers in 2018.
• NPS overtook heroin as the third most
commonly abused drug among first-time
abusers and, similarly, overtook cannabis as
the third most commonly abused drug among
all users (ST, 26 Feb).
 About 40 per cent of drug abusers arrested in
2018 were first-time offenders, and nearly two-thirds
of them were under the age of 30 (ST, 26 Feb).
Rise in Abusers of New Psychoactive Substances
Source: The Straits Times

30. Social
30
Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill
 The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill expands
more rehabilitative measures to those whose sole
crime is to consume drugs. Instead of long-term
imprisonment (LT) for those caught more than
twice, the new approach allows them to enter drug
rehabilitation centres (DRCs) instead (ST, 3 Feb).
• Changes approved in Parliament on 15 Jan.
• Experts say that, while it is clear that drug
abuse remains a crime, ramping up
rehabilitative efforts is the first step
towards tackling the root of this addiction.
They argue that a balance must be struck
between viewing drug abuse as an illness
and as a crime.

31. Social
31
Prison Statistics
 Of the 9,471 prison admissions last year, 486 involved prisoners aged above 60, statistics released
by the Singapore Prison Service. The latest statistics also showed a positive trend, with more
offenders staying out of trouble with the law in the first two years after their release (ST, 27 Feb).

32. Governance
32
 A new sales option will offer unsold flats on a rolling basis, available for booking any time. The first
batch of 120 flats under the scheme will be open for booking around mid-year (ST, 8 Feb).
 More than 20,000 households have benefited from the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) since it was
introduced in August 2015. Grant was set up to encourage family support by helping to offset the cost of
buying a resale flat for those opting to live with or close to their parents or children (ST, 9 Feb).
 About 600 rental tenants become home owners each year on average. Of the 3,500 rental tenants
who became first-time flat buyers, three in four bought either a two-room flexi or three-room flat,
with 47 per cent buying three-room flats and about 28 per cent choosing two-room flexi flats. About 72
per cent of the group bought a flat with the help of the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) or the
Special CPF Housing Grant, or both (ST, 11 Feb).
 About nine in 10 older buyers of HDB's two-room flexi flats have chosen shorter leases, an option
that frees up more cash for them. The lease lengths range from 15 to 45 years. Only those aged 55 and
above qualify to take up this option (ST, 15 Feb).
Housing Schemes & Developments

33. 33
 The Land Transport Master Plan Advisory Panel has
proposed that peak-hour commutes on public
transport should take no more than 45 minutes by
2040, which will help the average peak-hour
commuter save about 15 minutes a day. This is one of
the recommendations submitted to the Government
to make public transport faster, better connected, safer
and more inclusive (ST, 16 Feb).
Public Transportation & Water Sustainability
 A focus group study by national water agency PUB and REACH revealed that younger
Singaporeans and PRs appear to be less concerned about the sustainability of the country’s water
supply than older residents aged 55 and above. Younger participants – those with young or teenage
children – perceived water scarcity as “a distant concept” due to the ready availability of water
here (ST, 25 Feb).
Governance

34.  In responding to a commentary by Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat
said that the Government will not flinch from taking a hard look at itself each time there is a
failure, and will do whatever is necessary to put things right. He rejected the suggestion that
Singapore's political leadership has “allowed the whole system to go slack”, gone “soft” on themselves
and the public service, and failed to hold senior people accountable when things go wrong (ST, 9 Feb).
• The commentary had pointed to complacency as one reason for a spate of lapses such as the
SingHealth data breach, leak of HIV patient data and NS training deaths. It called on the
Government to look at the deeper reasons for the lapses, to avoid systemic breakdowns and
restore public confidence.
 Singapore will introduce Digital Defence as the sixth pillar in its national defence framework Total
Defence, signalling the threat cyber attacks and disinformation pose, and the importance of cyber
security (ST, 14 Feb).
 Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Ms Indranee Rajah stated that, despite its generally low
taxes, Singapore is still able to achieve social outcomes – in education, healthcare, and home
ownership – beyond that of other countries. This is the result of “a carefully calibrated combination of
maintaining a broad tax base, diverse sources of revenue, viable economic strategies, sound
governance, and fiscal prudence” (ST, 17 Feb).
Public Administration
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Governance

35. Malay/Muslim Affairs
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 Interfaith champion Siti Noor Mastura has been named The
Straits Times Singaporean of the Year for 2018. Siti Noor
Mastura co-founded non-profit organisation Interfaith Youth
Circle, and Back2Basics, a volunteer group which distributes
groceries to underprivileged families. The 28-year-old beat 10
other finalists for the award, now in its fourth year (ST, 13 Feb).
 At the Engaging Hearts and Minds Seminar, Minister-in-charge
of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli emphasised the importance
of upstream work and early intervention so that potential
problems can be identified. He added that agencies must
leverage one another's efforts, and work across agency lines, to
deliver help in an integrated manner. He cited the M³ WGS joint
office – comprising MUIS, MENDAKI, and MESRA – which
began operations last month (ST, 22 Feb).
M³ Collaboration
ST Singaporean of the Year

36. Malay/Muslim Affairs
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 MENDAKI’s ‘Future of Series’ (FOS) have expanded to reach out to more youths. In line with the M³
framework, it aims to mobilize volunteers for the community. The first public FOS seminar focused on the
future of self branding and human relationships (BH, 15 Feb).
 In an interview with Berita Minggu (BM), CEO of Yayasan MENDAKI Mdm Rahayu Buang spoke on
MENDAKI’s education support for the Malay/Muslim community (BH, 24 Feb).
• In particular, she clarified that, while the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) – a scheme that
MENDAKI administers on behalf of the government – is based on a strict eligibility criteria set out
under the national constitution, mixed race students with at least one parent of Malay descent
are eligible for the scheme.
• The eligibility criteria also includes per capita household income and applicants must be eligible for
the MOE Tuition Grant.
• Annually, MENDAKI disburses TTFS to about 14,000 students. In the last five years, a total of $175
million has been disbursed to eligible students.
 Through the MENDAKI Club’s Young Minds Club (YMC), students have had the opportunity to seek
knowledge and experience from STEM workers on the impact of technology disruption and future
employment opportunities and exposes them to innovative new technologies (BH, 16 Feb).
MENDAKI News

37. Malay/Muslim Affairs
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 Accredited Islamic religious teachers who have yet to attend a mandatory ethics class can soon do
so online, as part of a new initiative to ensure that all of them fulfil the requirement by 2020 or risk
being struck off. Asatizah who have attended the ethics class could have their ARS accreditation
revoked if they are deemed to have flouted the ethics code.
 A first batch of seven students received the MUIS Social Work Study Award for students of social
work and social service studies who, upon graduation, contribute to the development of the Muslim
community (ST, 1 Feb).
 MUIS and Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC) have signed an MOU for the MUIS Special Needs
Trust Scheme, that aims to provide financial support for families having persons with special needs
(PSN) (ST, 2 Feb).
• Muis announced that it was allocating $1 million for the scheme, financed using funds that
was paid to Baitulmal.
• Scheme will be made available until 31 Dec 2021.
Developments in the Community

38. Food For Thought
1. Researchers call for more emotional support and fewer worksheets and spelling tests
for children when they move from pre-school to primary school.
• How can we better support families in their children’s transition from one education
stage to another – starting from transition into formal schooling – in terms of emotional
and academic readiness?
2. Fresh university graduates earned a higher starting pay last year, with those in the IT
sector posting the highest rates for full-time permanent jobs. In other news,
digitalisation of the economy such as the e-commerce boom is reshaping industry, and
is predicted to grow to US$5 billion by 2025.
• How can we expose more of our children to IT fields such as programming, robotics and
automation, so that they can be better positioned for the technologically-driven
workforce?
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