Opinions

Local human rights activist, Kokila Annamalai, has once again lent her voice to, and stood up for, the voiceless and very vulnerable migrant workers.

Just lask week, Kokila started a petition urging Manpower Minister, Josephine Teo, to protect the migrant workers against COVID-19. This came after more clusters emerged at worker dormitories around the country.

In a Facebook post last evening, Kokila took umbrage at the unfair and harsh treatment meted out by local authorities to these workers for flouting circuit-breaker (CB) regulations. While locals who flout the rules face written advisories or fines, these workers face possibly face irreversible, permanent punishment.

She also shared some of the actual sentiments by workers, who were not too pleased with some of the MOM's PR over the state of the factory-converted dormitories.

Needless to say, some of the workers disagreed with MOM and asked that they really look into the issues of overcrowding, and the lack of hygiene.

Kokila was conflicted because the need to raise awareness about the situation had to be balanced with the possible repercussions meted out against the workers who spoke out.

She was adamant in her conviction that the workers have to be able to speak freely without the fear of censure.

She is right. The foreign workers are in a diffficult position. They value their jobs. They trusted the system here and that is why they left their families and friends behind to work here. As much as Singaporeans may think that these workers are dispensable, we need them. Just look at the amount of workers at construction sites before Covid-19 struck us.

It is only right that we protect them, just as we protect our fellow Singaporeans who may be at risk of Covid-19.

In Kokila, they have someone who is feisty and fearless. She will ensure that the government does what it needs to protect the workers. It's time the government listens, and take punitive measures against errant employers and dormitory owners.

Several clusters linked to foreign worker dormitories have raised concerns that a larger transmission may occur. To prevent an outbreak that may become uncontrollable and overwhelm our healthcare facilities, the affected dormitories have been shut down and the workers have effectively been quarantined within the facilities.

Netizens however were outraged when pictures and videos of their living conditions emerged showing less than sanitary, as well as crowded, living conditions. The Manpower Minister, Josephine Teo, acknowledged that the issue and ordered a thorough clean-up of the dormitories.

If those conditions didn't come to light, the foreign workers' health may deteriorate due to their extended exposure to the filth.

Local influencer, Preetipls, and her friends from Utopia, wants to help them. She wants to raise $100,000 for the migrant workers through two organisations that attend to the imediate needs of the migrant workers – Health Serve and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).  

Apart from those quarantined at the dormitories, there are other groups that are under financial, physical and mental stress borne out of the pandemic:

1. Migrant workers who are currently living in the dormitories but not under quarantine face the following problems:

SALARY: MOM has announced that workers who are in quarantine will continue being paid their wages. However, the rest of the workers who are not in quarantine will not be receiving any wages during this time since most job operations have ceased. Within the current language of the policy, there is no wage protection for non-quarantined workers.

FOOD: The regulation of mandatory 3 daily meals also does not extend to workers who are not quarantined. While some employers are catering food for their employees, some have stated that the corresponding amount of money spent on catering would eventually be deducted from the worker’s next salary (estimation of $100-125).

2. Special Pass Holders

Special Pass holders are those who are given a legitimate reason to stay in Singapore despite not being legally employed, mostly because of outstanding disputes/compensations/employment issues that have yet to be resolved. Since they are not allowed to seek work during this time, they do not have access to accommodation, necessities or disposable income. More importantly, they are not eligible for any of the above government resources during this pandemic.

These are some of the reasons why you should care about the migrant workers and show your appreciation by donating to the cause at give.asia/donatepls.

You can also sign the petition calling for the Manpower Minister, Josephine Teo, to protect our migrant workers from COVID-19. It was started by a concerned Singaporean, Kokila Annamalai. They are very close to the target of 5,000 signatories.

Utopia

A group of friends bound by a collective sense of purpose to use our voices and creativity to share community-oriented stories towards justice and resilience building. We are not affiliated with any business or government organisations.

Jake Low
Jean Hew
Shelby Ellis Goh
Subhas Nair
Victoria Sim
Vivian Chan Ker Ling
Weilee Yap

COVID-19 is proving to be a stern test for the 4G leaders of the PAP. Initially, the PAP leaders coped well. They drew on the experiences from the SARS crisis to formulate a plan to keep Singapore and Singaporeans safe. However, this is slowly unravelling before our very eyes.

Earlier today, PM-designate, Heng Swee Keat, annouced the Solidarity Budget  - the third such budget annouced within two months that is targeted to help alleviate the financial burden off Singaporeans.

While this was unprecedented, it was possibly indicative of a PAP ledership that was unable to fully comprehend the impact of the virus on Singaporean individuals, organisations, and businesses.

A government that understood the virus and its implications would not have had to resort to such an unprecedented move.

Their supporters will tell you that the PAP did well to react to the changing circumstances and that the PAP cannot be expected to predict the future accurately.

No one is asking the PAP to play fortune-teller. However, with the data that the government machinery possesses, a government that is in touch with the people and understand their fears would not have had to resort to table 3 budgets before getting it right.

Why were some of the payments staggered or deferred towards the later part of the year? Was it because the PAP had one and half eye on the coming GE? Why the changes now?

Slowly, the true colours of the PAP leadership is beginning to be laid bare by COVID-19. It is not a pretty sight.

The implementation of more severe measures now, and not earlier, is a clear demonstration of the incompetencies of the PAP.

The first and second generation of PAP leaders were visionaries and do-ers who made things happen. Above all, they were leaders who were decisive and who led from the front.

Towards the end of March, with the increase in local transmissions, Singaporeans were clamouring for stricter measures such as the closure of schools and even a lockdown, to mitigate further community transmissions of COVID-19.

The government resisted, only implementing increasingly stricter measure over a few weeks. In spite of their measures, the spread has not slowed down.

People were confused. They were told to observe social distancing but the trains were still full during the usual morning and afternoon peak periods. People in offices who car-pooled for lunch were told they had to observe social-distancing at hawker centres and food establishments. What was the point of all that?

Only now the government is acting more decisively with these recent announcements. In the past 2 weeks, they were trying to be too clever with their measures. Perhaps, they thought they were being nuanced. Unfortunately, the measures simply became too confusing for the public. Confusing signals and confusing measures are not the sign of a good governance.

In LKY's time, the government was always prepared to think long-term and take decisive action that were unpopular. Singaporeans knew that too and they had confidence in the government then.

While they moved fast to contain the virus in the early periods, they have not shown any backbone to implement difficult measures decisively.

The tide of public sentiment is slowly turning against the PAP.

They should heed the advice of their own member, Inderjit Singh, to focus on the virus first before they even decide on calling for an election.

In a lengthy Facebook post, former PAP MP Inderjit Singh articulated why he feels that, from a public health safety standpoint, any decision on the date of the General Elections (GE) should only be made from June 2020 onwards.

While he principally concurs with the PAP's position that the GE should be held as early as possible for the quicker installation of their 4G leaders, Singh felt that now, based on the People's Republic of China (PRC) experience in managing the COVID-19 threat, is not the right time to do so.

The PRC took about 4 months to have it under control, with the cases peaking in February and March. Singapore has yet to hit its peak.

Based on the PRC's trajectory, and the best case scenario, Singapore will need about four months from the end of January to effect a similar outcome. Depending on the situation then, the PAP can choose to call for an election immediately or within a few months time.

In the meantime, in the name of fairness, the Elections Department can take the time to implement new rules for campaigning as early as possible.

In concluding, Singh emphasised his confidence in the PAP and their ability to make the right judgement calls for the benefit of all Singaporeans in both the short and long-term.

Singh is overconfident of a PAP win at the next GE. However he is absolutely right on one count - the PAP must not rush the GE at the expense of public health, no matter how much it thinks a PAP win is inevitable.

To all you Singaporeans

I have a simple message to you all, stop blaming our tabligh religious gathering and say we cause the spread of coronavirus to singapore and other south east asia country. How you know it is definitely our local malaysians who carry the virus in the first place? 

Why nobody say the obvious flaw that maybe it is the foreign attendees are irresponsible and bring the covid-19 virus to our religious event? Before the event, Singapore has more case than malaysia, why not possible is one of the 95 singapore attendee infect our innocent citizens during the event?

Use your brain and think, you will know it is not so sure it is us malaysian who spread virus to you, maybe is the other way around. 

If you are so scared of dying, don't come to malaysia, we don't welcome you also. Important is stop blaming malaysia for your covid cases when there is no proof they get it from malaysia. 

It is always possible they get it in singapore and come infect us. maybe even some china attendees infect the event, don't anyhow blame malaysia. 

[This is a message found in Whatsapp]