Focus on Healthcare is a five-part series that provides a critical analysis of Singapore’s healthcare system, popularly known as the 3M system (MediShield, Medisave, Medifund). Through it, we hope to provide an understanding of how healthcare financing is currently being funded and used in Singapore, and explore the ways in which this can be further enhanced to cater for the …

In his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced several changes to the Healthcare system in Singapore, particularly the Medisave and the Medishield (Life) schemes. Among these, he said that “the MediShield Life’s premiums will have to be higher… because it has to break even.” “Medisave rates have to go up,” he also said. “It has to …

By Andrew Loh On 16 September, Chin Peng, the former secretary-general of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), died in a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. 5 days later, on 21 September, the Chinese newspaper, Sin Chew Jit Poh, reported that “Mr and Mrs Tan Wah Piow” had sent a wreath to Mr Chin Peng’s wake. Mr Tan was the former president of the …

By Lim Jialiang / Photos by Chong Kai Xiong “Really, I can’t take it.” These words echoed with the quiet dignity and strength of a mother who had lost her son suddenly, and without warning. On behalf of the family, members of civil society organised a memorial for Dinesh Raman, the twenty-one year old who died in the custody of …

By Leong Sze Hian I refer to the article “Fewer locals visit the casinos; only 7.7 per cent made more than one visit in past 3 years” (Straits Times, Sep 26). Only 7.7% of locals visited casinos more than once? The article states that only 7.7 per cent of locals here made more than one visit to the two casinos …

By Terry Xu In August 2013, MP for Aljunied GRC, Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap, asked the Minister for Transport whether the cases of Malaysian buses flouting regulations by entering Singapore to ferry tourists to Malaysia have been increasing. According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) regulations, tour buses “shall only be used to carry tourists from an ASEAN …

TOC speaks with Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha on his views on civil society in Singapore. Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha, 43 was a member of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) 2010 to 2013. He served as the party’s Treasurer and stood as a parliamentary candidate for the party 2011 general election. He was also Singapore’s first openly gay politician. Later in August 2013, Wijeysingha announced that he was resigning from the SDP, stating …

By Joshua Chiang The nature lodge that my girlfriend and I were staying at for our long weekend getaway was – like many of the settlements along the Tatai river in Koh Kong province, Cambodia – only accessible by boat. This region is still relatively untouched by urbanization, making it an ideal place of sorts for the burgeoning eco-tourism industry …

By Andrew Loh As activists, both Singaporean and foreign, heave a sigh of relief that the Attorney General’s Chambers has issued a Certificate of Cooperation to death row inmate Yong Vui Kong, how does the now 25-year old Vui Kong feel about it? Vui Kong was sentenced to hang for trafficking in 47.27g of heroin into Singapore in 2008. All …

By Terry Xu Bangkok, 23 September 2013 – Close to 300 people turned up for the funeral of former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) secretary-general, Chin Peng, to bid him a final farewell on Monday. Many travelled from afar just to attend the funeral, which was held at the Wat That Throng temple in Bangkok to show their respect to their former …