TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has received 27 reports of adverse effects from the H1N1 vaccine since it became available on 6 November this year. The flu jab is available in all polyclinics and Pandemic Preparedness Clinics (PPCs) in the private sector. The commonest complaints are fever, rashes, headache, lethargy, body pain, nausea and vomiting. No reports of severe adverse reaction such as anaphylaxis have been made yet. Severe allergic reactions to the H1N1 vaccine have also been reported in some countries, most recently, in Canada. Several deaths apparently linked to the vaccine have also been reported overseas. H1N1 vaccine side effects are estimated to be brief and local, but long-term side effects cannot be known for a new vaccine without the passage of time. It is not known the number of Singaporeans who have taken the jab. About 300,000 vaccines are made available to the public. Separately, it was reported by Norwegian health authorities that they have discovered a potentially significant mutation in the H1N1 influenza strain that could be responsible for causing the severest symptoms among those infected. "The mutation could be affecting the virus' ability to go deeper into the respiratory system, thus causing more serious illness," the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said in a statement. It was unclear whether the mutated virus was transmitted among humans, the health authorities said. "Based on what we know so far, it doesn't seem like the mutated virus is circulating in the population, but rather that spontaneous changes have happened in the three patients," director Geir Stene Larsen at the public health institute said in the statement. Dr Keiji Fukuda, Special Advisor to World Health Organisation (WHO), gave a press briefing on 06 November. Of the various highlights, he mentioned that WHO has found the pandemic vaccine to be safe and there is no picture of unusual side effects emerging. Due to the high mutation rate of the H1N1 influenza virus, the vaccine will provide immunity to it for only a period of between 6 to 12 months. Antibodies to the H1N1 influenza virus will only be produced about 2 weeks after the vaccination. Like the influenza flu vaccine, the H1N1 flu vaccine is highly recommended for pregnant women and those aged 50 years and above. While influenza vaccine is safe for children, the H1N1 flu vaccine has not been approved for use in those below the age of 18 yet though the Ministry of Health has indicated that it may give the green light to do so soon. The H1N1 flu vaccine does not cover the influenza A virus. Both vaccines cannot be taken together. Doctors suggest a minimum of one week's separation between the two vaccines. Singaporeans are encouraged to keep themselves updated with the latest medical advisory from the Ministry of Health at its website here.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent A PRC new citizen by the name of Fu Yun was awarded the "Good Neighbour Award" jointly given out by the Housing Board and the People's Association yesterday. Madam Fu, who is from China, became a citizen in 1996, three years after marrying her Singaporean husband. The couple have two sons, aged nine and 12. The 38 year old woman was reported by the state media to be a "trusted" member of her neighbourhood - she would look after her neighbours' homes when they are overseas and pick their children up from school when they are unable to do so. Following a deluge of negative publicity on the immigrants from China, the Straits Times found fit to "glorify" Madam Fu's "achievements" under its "Top Story" section. For every Madam Fu, there are countless of others who found it hard to adapt to life in Singapore as exemplified by the wife of opposition member Tan Lead Shake who was sentenced to 16 years' in jail for killing her brother-in-law. The ruling party has come under intense fire recently for its liberal immigration policies which has altered Singapore's demographics dramatically. Foreigners now make up 36 per cent of Singapore's 5-million population, up from 14 per cent in 1990. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Mr Wong Kan Seng revealed in Parliament on Monday that two out of every three applicants for PRs are successful. An average of 46,300 people are granted Singaporean permanent resident (PR) status every year for the past eight years. From 2000 to 2008, an average of 74,500 applications for permanent residency were submitted by foreigners each year. Of these, an average of 46,300 applications were successful The ruling party also tries to court the new migrants by spending $10 million dollars on a "Community Integration Fund" to make them feel welcome. Minister of Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan claimed that about 4,500 new citizens are now serving as grassroots leaders in various estates. With elections looming around the corner, the ruling party is changing tack to placate the rising resentment on the ground at the relentless influx of foreigners over the last few years. Senior leaders repeatedly reassured Singaporeans that their interests will be safeguarded and that the immigration will be "managed" to ensure that they benefit in the long run. There is no opposition in Parliament to check on the ruling party. Bills and legislation are often passed with little consultation with the people. MM Lee Kuan Yew is adamant that immigration is "essential" for Singapore - he urged Singaporeans to bear with the "tide" of foreigners who has now become a "flood". As new citizens will tend to vote for the government, their rising numbers will surely help to entrench the PAP in power for the next few generations.  Read More →

OPINION Last week, the Straits Times reported an Indian national and permanent resident in Singapore Mr Farook Ali Akbar who committed suicide together with his son. Mr Farook came to Singapore to work as a database administrator in 2001 and became a PR two years later. His last drawn salary was $7,300 a month and he stayed in a flat in Bukit Batok. It is not revealed if the flat was bought or rented. In another instance, an Indonesian PR forked out $653,000 for a four-room HDB flat in Queenstown when he can easily afford a private condominium. His monthly salary was not reported in the papers. PRs are allowed to purchase resale HDB flats in the open market, but not new flats which are reserved solely for Singapore citizens. According to a report by real estate agency ERA, about 40 per cent of the buyers in the resale market are PRs though this was disputed by National Development Mah Bow Tan who claimed that the figure is only 5 per cent without quoting any sources. As PRs are usually mid-level professionals, they can well afford to pay above market rates for resale flats, thereby contributing directly to the escalation of prices. Since the prices of new flats are pegged to the recent transaction of resale flats over the last three months in the vicinity, the sky-rocketing prices of resale flats will have a "trickle-down" effect on the prices of the new flats too. With PRs flooding and "spoiling" the resale market, home owners have every reason to jack up their COVs to reap more profits from the sale of their flats. Now, the question is: should PRs who earn well above $10,000 a month and can easily afford a private condominium or landed property be allowed to purchase a resale flat? Means testing was introduced in Singapore hospitals not too long ago. Under the new system, patients are allocated classes of wards based on their household income. For example, a rich patient with a monthly income of more than $8,000 will have to stay in a "B1" ward and above instead of a "C" class ward reserved for the lower-income group. According to the Ministry of Health, this helps to ensure that limited public resources are not abused and that the needy will get the help they deserve. Similarly, HDB flats are considered public "resources" too whether they are new or resale flats. By right, only citizens should be allowed to purchase public housing as in Malaysia and other countries. Non-citizens will either have to buy a private apartment or rent a flat. They should not be allowed to compete directly with citizens for public housing. The rising prices of HDB flats is one key reason why young Singaporeans are postponing marriage and starting a family thereby worsening the declining birth rates. With a bulk of their salaries being tied up in the housing loans, many will have to contemplate twice to have children of their own. Making HDB flats more affordable to young couples will encourage them to have more children. The prices of HDB flats are unlikely to come down by much so long as PRs are permitted to buy and sell them freely without any restrictions. Means testing should be imposed on PRs buying resale flats and those with a salary above a certain cap are disqualified from doing so. Singaporeans buying new flats are subjected to similar conditions: a couple with a combined income of more than $5,000 has to buy a four-room or larger flat. Three-room and smaller flats are only reserved for families from the low income-group. With due respect to PRs, while they do contribute to the Singapore economy, their futures do not lie in Singapore. When they finally pack up their bags and return to where they come from, they will stand to make a profit from selling their HDB flats, leading to capital outflow from Singapore. In the meantime, Singapore citizens who genuinely need a place to stay are unable to get a flat of their choice due to the high prices. Mr Mah stressed that PRs are allowed to buy resale flats because they also need a place to live: “PR families are not eligible for housing subsidies that Singaporeans enjoy. They are not allowed to buy a new flat from HDB or enjoy any housing grant. However, PRs need to have a home in Singapore. Therefore, they are allowed to buy properties from the open market, including HDB resale flats.’ PRs can always buy a private property or rent a place to stay. If PRs need a place to live, what about Singaporeans, especially the first-time home buyers? Between a PR who will leave Singapore in the near future and a citizen who will start a family in Singapore, who will have more stake in the country? It is myopic of the government to give numerous benefits to PRs in the hope that it will entice them to settle down in Singapore for good. Many simply take advantage of what the government gives them without additional incentives to take up Singapore citizenship. As such, a more stringent criteria should be imposed to distinguish PRs who are here merely for economic reasons and those who are keen to become naturalized Singaporeans themselves. Only those who are willing to hedge their futures on Singapore are allowed to purchase resale flats. One way of assessment is the length of stay in Singapore. PRs who have been here only for one or two years should be barred from the resale market altogether. Only those who brought their families here and have stayed for more than 5 years can buy HDB flats and even then, they must be subjected to means testing. HDB flats have come to be regarded as symbols of Singapore citizenship. A clearer distinction must be made between PRs and citizens. It is already very generous for us to allow PRs to buy resale flats. They should not add to the housing problem by depriving Singaporeans, especially the younger generation, a chance to own a home of their own.  Read More →