Indranee to Jamus: What matters is having wealth tax policies that work in each jurisdiction
Let’s be clear at the outset that the Singapore Government is not opposed to taxing wealth. Speaking in Parliament, Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah said that the Government is constantly looking for ways to be able to supplement our revenue but to do that in a way that strikes the right balance. The Minister […]
Why are there 2 different numbers for the ICU? Ho Ching explains
Some people have noticed that the MOH’s daily updates for the COVID-19 situation have different numbers for the ICU. Why are there 2 different numbers for the ICU, they asked. Because we are kiasu, said Mdm Ho Ching. In many countries, covid cases are hospitalised only after they are very seriously sick. But here in […]
It’s so easy to be the Opposition in Singapore and win
It is easy to be the opposition in Singapore and I’m not kidding. Let me tell you why. Take the Progressive Wage Model. It’s the brainchild of former minister and former secretary-general of NTUC, Lim Swee Say. Tripartite partners have been working hard since 2012 to implement the models for various sectors. The work continues. […]
CNB Statement on findings relating to investigation into Justin Lee who died after a fall from height
Investigations into how 17-year-old Justin Lee was questioned and treated in the lock-up has been completed. The Central Narcotics Bureau said Justin was treated “professionally and fairly”. CNB launched the investigation after his mother, Ms Cecilia Ow, alleged that he was mistreated during the process. Earlier this month, she made public a letter she had written […]
Sinovac-CoronoVac included in the National Vaccination Programme
The Sinovac-CoronoVac COVID-19 vaccine will be included in the National Vaccination Programme (NVP), the Multi-Ministry Taskforce said. This follows the interim authorisation of the vaccine by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). This will allow those who are medically ineligible to take any mRNA vaccine to take three doses of Sinovac-CoronacVac. Those who had allergies or […]
IMDA cancels The Online Citizen Pte Ltd Class Licence
The IMDA announced in a press release on 15 October 2021 that it has cancelled The Online Citizen Pte Ltd’s (TOC) class licence as it had repeatedly refused to comply with its licence conditions as a registered Internet Content Provider (ICP). As a registered ICP, TOC is required to be transparent about its sources of […]
Donovan Choy rebuts Jamus Lim’s claims on minimum wage
When the economist David Card won the Nobel Prize this past Monday, I quipped to my coauthor Bryan Cheang that The Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim – an ardent supporter of the minimum wage (MW) – would almost certainly leverage on this piece of news to double down on his fervent support for the MW. […]
Did WP Raeesah Khan accompany a rape victim to make a police report?
Did WP Raeesah Khan accompany a rape victim to make a police report? That’s the question on many people’s mind after she repeatedly refused in Parliament to provide any details on her allegation of the police’s mishandling of a rape victim, citing confidentiality issue. Did police mishandle the case as she alleged? Perhaps we will […]
Full text of PM Lee’s speech on the path to COVID endemicity: Protect the Vulnerable, Secure our Future
PM Lee Hsien Loong addressed the nation on 9 October 2021 to give an update on the COVID-19 situation and the path forward towards living with COVID-19. Here is the full transcript of the speech: My fellow Singaporeans Local COVID-19 cases have increased sharply over the past few weeks. All of you are understandably anxious. […]
Everyone will meet the virus sooner or later but we need not fear: Ho Ching explains
We will all meet the virus sooner or later – perhaps as fast as 3 months, or perhaps as late as 6 or 9 months if we collectively work to slow the spread – but with vaccination, we can be more relaxed about meeting the virus, Mdm Ho Ching said. For the old folks, vaccination […]