Morning call, February 7 2016
GOOD morning!
An earthquake in Southern Taiwan near the city of Tainan, which caused a 16-storey apartment building to collapse, has killed at least 14 people. Buildings in other parts of the city had also collapsed or were left tilting in dangerous angles. Probes will be launched to determine the construction and engineering companies responsible, though it was reported that many of them have already closed down. Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said there are no reports from Taiwanese authorities of Singaporean casualties, while assistance by the Singapore Civil Defence Force as well as the Singapore Armed Forces has been offered by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen respectively.
With many families returning to celebrate the Chinese New Year, there are fears of higher casualties, and rescue efforts are still underway. Besides also offering Singapore’s support and help, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong added that “My thoughts are with the affected families. It must be especially difficult with the New Year approaching and everyone looking forward to the celebrations.”
The prime minister, closer to home in his traditional Chinese New Year message, outlined challenges in the global economy as well as the implications for Singapore: the slowdown of the Chinese economy (affecting stock markets and business sentiments), slowdowns in global demand (reducing demand for exports), and the slow growth of local employment. “We should take these ups and downs in our stride. We still enjoy full employment, and there are still opportunities to be seized, in Singapore and in the region,” Mr Lee said, and while there are uncertainties he reassured Singaporeans that a repeat of the severe downturn during 2008 global financial crisis is unlikely.
He also highlighted the 33,800 Singaporean babies born last year, the highest number in 13 years, and marginally higher than the 33,238 born during the last Dragon Year in 2012.
Individuals the ST spoke to credited the SG50 celebrations as well as the enhanced Marriage and Parenthood incentives and measures, though it is not clear whether the momentum can be sustained. In his speech the prime minister reaffirmed the government’s support of Singaporeans through the responsibilities and joys of parenthood, and – in a Facebook post – Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo mooted the possibility of making a second week of paternity leave compulsory.
And finally, the death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim – after he was picked up by the police from school, before he was arrested for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old girl – has continued to raised questions about the role of schools during these investigations, and about the presence of a third party during police questioning. An online petition to the Singapore Police Force, calling for minors to be protected during investigations in Singapore, has also received over 1,000 signatures.
Featured image by Najeer Yusof.
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