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Netizens called out government to solve the Covid-19 crisis first before holding a GE

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5 years ago

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Last Saturday (14 March), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took to his Facebook page, raising the concern of whether to hope for the Covid-19 crisis to stabilise and hold the General Election (GE) by 21 April 2021, or call the elections early.

In his Facebook post, PM Lee, who seems undecided on the GE’s date, wrote that the date will depend on “the situation, and the outlook”.

“Singapore faces grave and extended challenges. We can’t tell when the pandemic will end, but it will likely last at least this year, and quite possibly longer. The economic hit will likely be more serious than the Global Financial Crisis, and longer-lasting too, even beyond the end of the pandemic,” he wrote.

Noting that the situation will worsen before getting better, PM Lee stated in his post,

“We have two choices. Either hope and pray that things will stabilise before the end of the term so that we can hold elections under more normal circumstances – but we have no certainty of that.

Or else call elections early, knowing that we are going into a hurricane, to elect a new government with a fresh mandate and a full term ahead of it, which can work with Singaporeans on the critical tasks at hand.”

PM Lee affirmed that the necessary precautions will be in place to make sure the “parties can campaign effectively and people can vote safely” if the GE were to take place in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the meantime, the sudden announcement of the boundaries revision by the Election Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has incited the opposition parties to call out the government for its irresponsible decision to hold the GE during the Covid-19 outbreak as it is important to focus on fighting the Covid-19 outbreak and protecting public health at this current period.

Netizens disagree to holding GE as the priority should be to combat Covid-19

Commenting under PM Lee’s Facebook post, many netizens disagreed with the idea of holding the GE amid the Covid-19 outbreak, noting that the government should save the national reserves and resources to combat the Covid-19 instead of channelling funds and energy towards elections. Compare with holding a GE, the priority should be focusing on tackling the spread of Covid-19.

One netizen mocked that the government is not capable of dealing with the crisis which is why it is so urgent for the ruling government to hold the GE in the middle of a ‘hurricane’ due to Covid-19. The netizen wrote, “What’s the urgency, unless you think the current team which 70% of the electorate chose, is inadequate to deal with the crisis?”

A few netizens also reminded the government that it should prioritise public health and the safety of people, and not the upcoming elections. All parties should work together and be united to overcome the coronavirus crisis, they said.

The other citizens also called on the government to put aside politics and to fight against the Covid-19 outbreak together as the competence of government will be seen through the process of dealing with the country’s current crisis.

 

 

 

One netizen cited her own experience when having a door-to-door visit from a Member of Parliament (MP), but she did not dare to open the door as she cared about her family health due to the fear of being infected with the coronavirus. She requested the government to take into consideration the unforeseen threat of coronavirus before changing the date of the GE.

Some citizens condemned that it would be irresponsible and immoral to put the nation’s safety at risk if the government decides to hold the GE during this period, adding that the GE will create higher human flow which could cause a higher transmission rate of Covid-19 among the public.

One netizen also doubted what PM Lee affirmed in his post, asking how the government plans on implementing precautionary measures to ensure a safe environment during the election period.

However, there are still some netizens who expressed their support for holding the GE as soon as possible, which they say could help the people and country to have more certainty in coping with the coronavirus outbreak.

 

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Commuters report being stuck for nearly half an hour during 10 Oct EWL Disruption

Some commuters took to social media to express their frustration during the East-West Line disruption on 10th October. While some claimed to have been stuck on the train for nearly half an hour, others voiced disappointment over SMRT’s inability to manage repeated breakdowns. Some even sarcastically noted that as public transport fares continue to rise, train faults seem to be increasing as well.

Published

1 hour ago

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10 October 2024

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SINGAPORE: On 10 October at noon, the East-West Line (EWL) experienced a disruption due to a train fault reported by operator SMRT at 12:31 PM.

Commuters were advised to expect an additional 25 minutes of travel time between Outram Park and Queenstown MRT stations towards Joo Koon.

SMRT also  announced the availability of free regular bus services and assured passengers that station staff would be present to assist those in need.

By 1:22 PM, SMRT said train services from Queenstown station to Bugis had resumed.

SMRT explained that at 12:30 PM, a first-generation westbound Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) train stalled near Tiong Bahru station due to the fault.

“All commuters were safely disembarked at Outram Park station,” said SMRT, who also expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused.

According to comments from commuters on social media platform XiaoHongshu, some reported being stuck on the train which halted between Tiong Bahru station and Redhill for nearly half an hour.

One commuter commented, “I’m really speechless… Just a few days ago, the EWL had a major breakdown and just recovered. I thought things should be safer recently? Yet today I encountered this, the train stopped between Tiong Bahru and Redhill for almost half an hour.”

“SMRT really leaves people speechless. Prices increase every year (they’re set to rise again at the end of the year), yet faults occur one after another.”

“The last incident still hasn’t received a satisfactory response or explanation from the public, and now another one has occurred just a few days later.”

Commuter Expresses Disappointment Over SMRT’s Inability to Manage Repeated Breakdowns

Observing comments on SMRT’s Facebook post, one commuter, who claimed to have been stuck in the faulty train for approximately 45 minutes, expressed disappointment that, despite numerous breakdowns, SMRT still could not manage the situation effectively.

There were also commuters who criticised the communication during the train fault. He pointed out that the announcement made at the station was so muffled that it was unintelligible, rendering it effectively useless.

As a result, He had to look for information on SMRT’s Facebook page to find out about the delay.

Some questioned whether SMRT had conducted proper due diligence checks on all first-generation trains, given that the latest disruption occurred just 10 days after the resolution of a six-day major EWL disruption.

One netizen expressed dissatisfaction with SMRT’s approach to managing first-generation trains.

The comment questioned whether SMRT was waiting for more breakdowns of these trains before deciding to withdraw them from service.

The netizen expressed concern that this delay in action resulted in unnecessary costs for repairs and significant inconvenience for commuters.

A Comment expressed frustration with SMRT’s focus on post-incident announcements, arguing that such actions are too late. He suggested that SMRT should prioritise precautionary measures to enhance the reliability of train services.

Another netizen sarcastically noted that as public transport fares increase, train faults seem to be on the rise as well.

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Worries loom over speculative trends in HDB market as S$1M transactions dominate headlines

Four HDB flats at Bidadari’s Alkaff Vista estate recently crossed the S$1 million mark after reaching their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). The surge in property agent visits prompted residents to put up signs to deter them. Netizens are concerned about speculative trends in the HDB resale market, particularly as properties in mature estates are viewed as lucrative investment opportunities.

Published

2 days ago

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8 October 2024

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Earlier, it was reported that four HDB flats at Bidadari’s Alkaff Vista estate recently crossed the S$1 million mark following the completion of their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), signalling the rising demand for homes in the centrally located estate.

These high-value transactions took place between August and September 2024, with the highest being a five-room unit that sold for S$1.2 million last month.

The other three, all four-room flats located at Block 106B and Block 106A, changed hands for prices ranging from S$1.08 million to S$1.17 million.

According to HDB’s website, another unit at Block 105A, a low-floor flat, was sold for S$937,500.

Property Agents Flood Estate, Prompting Residents to Put Up Signs to Ward Them Off

In a report by Shin Min Daily News, several residents have complained about being inundated by property agents.

Some residents have reported daily visits from agents, prompting them to put up signs requesting that agents refrain from knocking on their doors, as they have no intention of selling.

At least 200 residents have reportedly placed “Do Not Disturb” signs outside their homes to ward off these unsolicited visits.

According to residents, agents typically knock on doors during weekday evenings, but since the signs were posted, many agents have taken the hint and now leave brochures instead.

Alkaff Vista is a Build-to-Order (BTO) project consisting of four blocks, was initially launched between 2015 and 2016.

Prices for four-room flats ranged from S$433,000 to S$682,000 during that period, depending on factors such as floor level and location, according to PropertyNets.SG.

Social Media Users Fear Rising Housing Costs May Impact Future Generations

Public reaction to these million-dollar flat sales has been mixed, with many expressing concerns on social media about the rising costs of public housing.

Some worry that the trend of million-dollar flats making headlines could make it more difficult for future generations to afford homes.

One comment recalled that the government had previously stated only about 2% of transactions would exceed S$1 million.

He expressed concern for future generations, stating that even with grants, they may still need to pay more than S$500,000 for a new flat.

He questioned how Singaporeans can increase the birth rate while also ensuring sufficient retirement savings.

The comment referred to a recent statement from HDB asserting that public housing in Singapore remains affordable and attainable for citizens.

It noted that million-dollar flats made up only 2 percent of total resale transactions in the past 1½ years.

HDB also pointed out that these high-value flats primarily consist of maisonettes, executive apartments, jumbo flats, and five-room units with desirable features, such as prime locations.

Netizens Voice Concerns Over Speculative Trends in HDB Resale Market

A netizen even questioned whether the current HDB resale market has “become a lottery”, with some hoping to secure en bloc or BTO units in high-demand areas. “This island is one big casino!” he remarked.

Another echoed this sentiment, noting that those who pay over S$1 million for an HDB flat are often individuals who have sold their landed properties and downsized to single-storey flats for retirement, freeing up cash in the process.

Another netizen pointed out that some view properties in mature estates as profitable investment opportunities.

The comment suggesting that buyers are rushing to purchase properties there, hoping to cash in once they are eligible to sell after the five-year mark, potentially earning a fortune for the first owner.

He suggested that if the government sells flats to citizens who no longer need them, it should take the flats back at a reasonable price and resell them to those in need.

He emphasised that these flats should not be placed on the open market, as they must adhere to HDB regulations, noting that HDB properties are not private assets to begin with.

A comment expressed frustration and concern over the government’s allowance of high-value HDB flat sales, which they believe contradicts the purpose of subsidised housing meant for poor and middle-income citizens.

He highlighted perceived loopholes in the system, as rising prices make it difficult for some citizens to afford homes, even with CPF (Central Provident Fund) assistance.

One netizen propose implementing an income ceiling for resale flat buyers and recalling subsidies for those who profit from selling their flats.

The comment also expresses dissatisfaction with the current Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), suggesting that it is ineffective in curbing speculative trends.

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