Singaporean of the Year award for 2017

The recipient of The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award for 2017 

Fitting tribute for migrant aid group

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/fitting-tribute-for-migrant-aid-group

The migrant spirit deserves to be kept in the spotlight because that is what helped to make Singapore what it is. Nurturing that spirit amid everyday hardship is the quiet work of a general practitioner and the healthcare charity that he co-founded. It is thus fitting that The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award for 2017 has gone to Dr Goh Wei Leong and HealthServe.

The team provides migrant workers with affordable healthcare. This is laudable, as are the contributions of the other finalists not just this year but also since the inaugural award in 2015. This time, there were a film-maker, a conductor, a cartoonist, a para-athlete, an indoor skydiver, a student, a lawyer, a martial arts instructor, and two emergency responders. Each of them exemplifies the pursuit of excellence, an inherent capacity for commitment and an enduring sense of purpose in making Singapore a better place.

All acquitted themselves well but just one had to be picked for the award via a rigorous process. First, the finalists were selected from 60 nominees by a panel of 15 judges who took the results of a public vote into account. They included editors from The Straits Times as well as notable figures from society at large, such as a social entrepreneur and activist, civil servants, bankers, a chef and restaurateur, and a singer-songwriter.

The criteria the nominators and judges kept in mind included the ability to strive against the odds, voluntary aid for the needy which created a significant impact, putting one's life on the line for someone in distress, or innovative ways of doing social good. The challenge is to keep a constant eye out for such qualities so that the unsung work which inspires nominations can, through the award, be an inspiration to all Singaporeans.

What makes Dr Goh's work stand out is the breadth of the selflessness. HealthServe, which runs dental and medical clinics, also offers social assistance, skills training and a food programme. These support structures are a boon to the one million or so low-wage migrant workers from the developing world who make up nearly 30 per cent of the workforce. These migrant workers are instrumental in building, cleaning and greening Singapore, but some of them face problems that require the sustained attention of other Singaporeans. Dr Goh is one of them, and HealthServe is a prominent example of how Singapore can reach out to its migrant workers, assuring them that they are a part of its concerns.

In a metaphorical sense, all the finalists reflect the migrant spirit in venturing out of a comfort zone into an uncertain area for the sake of change. Overcoming their sense of smallness to make a difference in key spheres was the microcosmic challenge that pioneers faced. The finalists show how the spheres can be expanded to encompass ordinary folk and migrant workers too.

Doctor lauded for selfless contributions

A general practitioner and the healthcare charity he co-founded have received The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award for 2017.

Dr Goh Wei Leong and HealthServe, which provides migrant workers with affordable healthcare, beat nine other finalists for the award yesterday.

HealthServe, founded in 2006 by Dr Goh and businessman Tang Shin Yong, has dental and medical clinics in Geylang, Mandai and Jurong. It also offers social assistance, skills training and a food programme.

President Halimah Yacob presented Dr Goh and HealthServe with a $20,000 cash prize and a trophy at the ceremony at UBS University Asia-Pacific in Kheam Hock Road.

Dr Goh said after receiving the award: "I am thrilled, surprised, really humbled. Getting to know the other finalists personally has been the highlight for us today."

The inaugural award for 2015 went to Good Samaritan Noriza A. Mansor, for helping an elderly Chinese man who had soiled himself in public. The 2016 award was given to Joseph Schooling and his parents Colin and May for their dedication and sacrifice in chasing the dream of an Olympic gold for Singapore.

The finalists, who sat down to a three-course dinner by Chef Alan Wong of Lavish Dine Catering, had the chance to mingle with former winners and nominees of the award.

AWARD BRINGS THE BEST OUT

They (Dr Goh and his team) have been doing this for a very long time, with all that passion... It is not easy to sustain that kind of contribution.

I must say this is an excellent award because it brings the best out of Singaporeans...

To some extent, they (the finalists) are Singaporeans like you and me, but on another level, you look at them and there is something special about every one of them.

He feels that there is a gap in this service, and Dr Goh steps in to fill the gap. When we talk about compassion and taking care of people, it is wonderful that Dr Goh is thinking of not just Singaporeans, but also our foreign workers who come here to help us build, to help us serve other Singaporeans.

Mr Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings' English/Malay/Tamil Media group and editor of The Straits Times, said in his speech: "By uncovering their stories, and shining a spotlight on their efforts, we at The Straits Times hope to celebrate them, and uphold the values they represent as a reflection of the kind of society we would like to see in Singapore."

He noted that Singapore is a well-known global brand that stands for efficiency and reliability, and is also known for its top-rated airport and seaport. While these remain important, many now want the country to also go beyond these achievements.

"Many Singaporeans today want ours to be a society that is known also for our compassion and care, our creativity and our culture, our courage in the face of adversity, as well as the courage to dare to think and be different," he said.

Mr Fernandez gave a special mention to Australian national Silvia Hajas, who saved three boys from drowning in the sea off East Coast Park last May. "For her instinctive selflessness and courage, all of us know she deserves our respect and gratitude... and we are honoured to have her in Singapore as part of our community," he said.

Mr Edmund Koh, UBS' country head in Singapore and its head of wealth management in Asia-Pacific, lauded the "selfless contributions" of Dr Goh and HealthServe, while adding: "We celebrate all the finalists as they are each deserving in their own way."

He told the finalists: "There were a few tears shed because of (your) achievements, your altruism of doing that, day in, day out, without any recognition or asking for anything. That is the human spirit that is most important."

Singaporean of the Year award for 2017 

It honours citizens who have put the country on the world map, persevered through incredible adversity or made the community a better place through selfless acts.

Now in its third year, the award is organised by The Straits Times and sponsored by UBS Singapore.

In the running for this year's award are 10 finalists from different walks of life.

They are film-maker Kirsten Tan; conductor Wong Kah Chun; cartoonist Sonny Liew; para-athlete Jason Chee; general practitioner Goh Wei Leong and HealthServe, the charity he co-founded; indoor skydiver Kyra Poh; student Muhammad Luqman Abdul Rahman; lawyer Satwant Singh; martial arts instructor Qin Yunquan; and emergency responders Mohamad Fuad Abdul Aziz and Syed Abdillah Alhabshee.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/several-worthy-finalists-and-one-will-be-chosen-singaporean-of-the-year-today

They were picked from 60 nominees after four rounds of selection by a panel of 15 judges.

The judging panel includes editors from The Straits Times, as well as figures such as social entrepreneur and activist Saleemah Ismail, chef and restaurateur Willin Low and singer-songwriter Dick Lee.

While the award recipient takes home the top prize, the other nine will each receive $5,000. The prize money is sponsored by UBS.

Mr Warren Fernandez, editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings' English/Malay/Tamil Media group and editor of The Straits Times, said: "Each of the nominees has an inspiring story. They had either distinguished themselves in their respective fields, or gone out of their way to help others at home and abroad. They show that regardless of your age, gender or social background, you can make a difference.

"Each of them would be a worthy winner. But unfortunately, the judges had to pick just one to be named Singaporean of the Year."

Commentary: Budget 2018, a responsible budget in spending and financing

What one should take away from this Budget is how government spending and financing have been enhanced to give Singapore more fiscal space for future needs, says one observer from Ernst & Young Solutions LLP.

SINGAPORE: Budget 2018 has been described as one that’s multifaceted and lays the foundation for a sustainable future for Singapore.

On deeper reflection, one could describe it as a responsible budget.

It is responsible on two fronts. First, in the area of government spending and second, in the area of financing that spending.

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT SPENDING

The announcement by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat to moderate the pace of ministries’ budget growth by cutting the growth of their block budget from 0.4 times to 0.3 times of GDP growth sets a clear tone towards prudence.

Yet, this cut is no surprise as it echoes the permanent 2 per cent downward adjustment to the budget caps of all Ministries and Organs of State in Budget 2017.

This approach to tighten the Government’s own purse springs is commendable and timely, done when Singapore is currently in a position of strength, in ending FY2017 with an overall budget surplus of S$9.6 billion.

That said, Mr Heng laid out methodically the areas in which government spending is expected to increase in the years to come. Not surprising, these are healthcare, infrastructure and security.

HIGHER SPENDING TO SUPPORT AN AGEING POPULATION

1 in 4 Singaporeans will be aged 65 and older in 2030, according to the Ministry of Health. This greying population is exacerbated by Singapore’s low fertility rate.

In years to come, ceteris paribus, the burden of financing the increase in the expenditure to support an ageing society will fall on the shoulders of a shrinking workforce, calling to question the sustainability of Singapore’s finances.

With this, if measures are not taken early, our sound fiscal footing fortified through the years may not extend beyond 2020. It is with this foresight that underpins the Government’s call to foster prudent and effective public spending.

Government ministries, like private enterprises, will need to look for more productive and innovative ways to run their agencies.

In the Budget announcement, several collaborations and streamlining of activities within government agencies were introduced.

Examples include the Pioneer Generation Office to be merged with the Agency for Integrated Care, SPRING Singapore coming together with IE Singapore to form Enterprise Singapore, and perhaps more to come.

Against a global landscape of increased connectivity and sector convergence, it is timely that government agencies and ministries too be more streamlined in providing integrated services to residents and companies, while being more cost efficient.

RESPONSIBLE IN FINANCING FUTURE SPENDING

While prudence goes some way to reduce expenditure, as important is raising revenue to make sure that our nation’s coffers remains in a strong position.  

The easiest way for a government to raise finances for its spending is through taxation. In a progressive tax system, it is expected that a greater burden will be placed on those with higher income.

To alleviate the burden of long-term nation building on the current generation of taxpayers, Budget 2018 takes a step in the right direction by financing national infrastructure building like the Integrated Waste Management Facility, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail and Changi Airport Terminal 5 through savings and borrowings.

A Rail Infrastructure Fund will be set up to save for large-scale, multiyear rail line projects with top-ups by the Government when Singapore is in a good fiscal position.

A Changi Airport Development Fund for Terminal 5 had been already been set up in 2015.

Statutory boards and government-owned companies that build the infrastructure will explore borrowing, likely much like how private companies fund acquisition and expansion plans.

Returns of investments from such projects may then be distributed to bondholders, corporates and individuals alike.

With this added mode of financing, the Government will have greater fiscal flexibility in funding projects - not only through direct use of external funding for these long-term projects, but also through channeling its existing operating revenues to other areas of expenditure.

More importantly, with this save and borrow approach, there is no need for the Government to dip into our national reserves to fund these major projects, preserving it for future generations.

That said, it is clear that more tax dollars are needed to fund expenditure of a recurrent nature, such as healthcare, security and other social spending.

Such expenditure directly benefits the current generation and as Mr Heng puts it:

The responsible way to pay for them is through taxation so that every generation pays its share.

With this, several tax rate hikes and new taxes have been announced. With immediate effect, the top marginal Buyer’s Stamp Duty rate for residential properties has been increased from 3 per cent to 4 per cent. Tobacco excise duty across all tobacco products have also been raised by 10 per cent.

Budget 2018 has been lauded as a strategic and integrated financial plan to position our island city for the future. And it is indeed so.

At the heart of Budget 2018 is a responsible masterplan that builds on the core values of Singapore: Thrift, prudence and self-reliance, while caring for the young, old and needy and making sure that the future ahead is a sustainable one for generations to come.

Sandie Wun is Partner, Transaction Tax at Ernst & Young Solutions LLP.  

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-budget-2018-responsible-spending-financing-prudent-9982470