RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI. The key highlights for this month are: All secondary school students will receive a personal laptop or tablet for learning by next year - seven years ahead of the original target. Graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities will soon be able to apply for new courses that offer additional professional certificates. To help both fresh entrants to the job market and those who might find themselves seeking employment as a fallout of the COVID-19 slowdown, the Government will set up satellite career centres islandwide.

1. June 2020

2. What is RPD Bites?
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local
mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is
produced by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites begins with an article count across different media sources which are
categorised into these main areas: education, economy, employment and employability, social
and community, and Malay/Muslim affairs. Other salient areas for the month are also
highlighted. It then delves into emerging themes and trends observed.
We hope you find this month’s RPD Bites insightful and useful for your needs. We
look forward to your continued partnership and support, and welcome any suggestions you
might have. You can reach us at RPD@mendaki.org.sg to feedback.
RESEARCH &
PLANNING
DEPARTMENT
2

3. Overall Coverage
• With a total of 395 articles, the themes of Economy, Social and Governance emerged
as the top 3 categories for June.
• A majority of the articles focussed on the COVID-19-induced economic slowdown and
its impact on jobs, businesses and the economy. Many of the articles also shed light
on efforts to help low-income families deal with the recession, and the public health
ramifications of COVID-19.
37
97 86
1018 26
60
38
55
123
146
48
Governance Social Economy Malay Muslim Affairs
No. of Articles
ST BH/BM Total
3

4. Overall Coverage: Key Categories
• In the Governance, Education, Economy and
Employment category, the breakdown is as
follows: Governance (55 articles), Education
(23), Economy (60) and Employment (86)
• In the Social-related category, the breakdown is
as follows: Health (38 articles), Community (64),
Housing (6) and Family (15)
Economy
60
27%
Employment &
Employability
86
38%
Education
23
10%
Governance
55
25%
Governance, Education, Economy
and Employment Issues
4
Family
15
12%
Health
38
31%
Housing
6
5%
Community
64
52%
Social-related Issues

5. Emerging Themes & Trends
5

6. Education
Digital learning for all
• All secondary school students will receive a personal laptop or
tablet for learning by next year - seven years ahead of the original
target. This is one of the ways the Government, schools and the
community are working together to keep social mobility alive. (ST,
Jun 18)
Students in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs)
• Graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE),
polytechnics and universities will soon be able to apply for new
courses that offer additional professional certificates e.g. advanced
post-diploma or postgraduate certificates. (ST, Jun 12)
• Students who want to study media, arts and design at Singapore
Polytechnic (SP) will be able to try out different specialisations
before deciding on one, which was not possible previously. (ST, Jun
11)
• Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) is introducing changes in its teaching
approach that will see students work on projects that involve
several subjects and skills from the get-go, similar to what
employees in industry have to go through. (ST, Jun 10)
6
Minister Ong Ye Kung
ST
Team project at NYP
ST

7. Governance
National Ministerial Broadcasts
• In the first National Broadcast, PM Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore is still
well-positioned to play its part in international trade of the future,
despite COVID-19. It had also started to prepare for uncertainties and
transform its economy, even before the pandemic hit. (ST, Jun 8)
• Singapore needs to be prepared for more challenging times ahead and
prepare itself to live with the coronavirus for the long term, said National
Development Minister Lawrence Wong. Businesses and workers may all
have to adapt to a new normal. (ST, Jun 10)
• The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having deep
reserves of finances, people and capabilities to respond to crises, said
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean. (ST, Jun 11)
• Countries are retreating from globalisation in the wake of the pandemic,
but Singapore's workers and businesses can tap opportunities even in a
less connected world, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun
Sing. (ST, Jun 15)
7
PM Lee Hsien Loong
ST
Minister Chan Chun Sing
ST

8. Governance
National Ministerial Broadcasts
• Singapore cannot defy the global economic downturn. But it must
"absolutely defy" the loss of social cohesion, the polarisation and the
despair that are taking hold in many other countries, said Senior
Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. (ST, Jun 18)
• In the sixth and final National Broadcast, Deputy Prime Minister
Heng Swee Keat highlighted the partnership between the
Government and the people, which has become more critical than
ever in the face of the twin threats of a pandemic and recession. (ST,
Jun 21)
Citizen consultation and General Election 2020
• To provide a platform for Singaporeans to reflect on their experiences
during the pandemic, and hear from them on potential action to
improve society, the Government will start the Emerging Stronger
Conversations series. (ST, Jun 21)
• In a televised address, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said following
the dissolution of Parliament by President Halimah Yacob, Polling
Day will be on July 10. (ST, Jun 24)
8
DPM Heng Swee Keat
ST
SM Tharman Shanmugaratnam
ST

9. Economy
National economic fundamentals
• Singapore's tax revenues have fallen owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and
to rebuild its fiscal position, the Government will look to strengthen the
economy and make future revenue streams more resilient, said Deputy
Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. (ST, Jun 9)
• Singapore has retained its top spot as the world's most competitive
economy, in the latest edition of the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking.
Its economic performance, tech infrastructure and education system help it
stay number one for the second year. (ST, Jun 17)
Business sentiments
• Amid gloomy economic forecasts triggered by the pandemic, infrastructure
remains a bright spot that can increase business activity and employment,
said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah. (ST, Jun 2)
• Business sentiment among companies in Singapore on what their positions
will be in the third quarter of 2020 improved slightly from their low
sentiments about the second quarter, but their outlook remains murky on
uncertainties ahead, according to a survey by the Singapore Commercial
Credit Bureau (SCCB). (ST, Jun 10)
Construction sector in Singapore
ST
Minister Indranee Rajah
ST
9

10. Employment and Employability
Support for employment amidst COVID-19
• Graduates will be able to apply for traineeships under the SGUnited
Traineeships Programme from 1 June, said Manpower Minister
Josephine Teo, with available roles spanning from marketing to social
work. (ST, Jun 1)
• The new high-level, 17-member National Jobs Council will work in the
coming months to grow jobs and training opportunities on a much
greater scale, said its chairman, Senior Minister Tharman
Shanmugaratnam. (ST, Jun 4)
• To help both fresh entrants to the job market and those who might
find themselves seeking employment as a fallout of the COVID-19
slowdown, the Government aims to set up satellite career centres in
all 24 Housing Board towns. (ST, Jun 5)
• From July 1, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) members aged 40
and over can use up to $500 a year to defray up to half of the out-of-
pocket expenses for course fees, under the Union Training Assistance
Programme (UTAP). (ST, Jun 20)
NUS graduands
ST
Workers in CBD area
ST
10

11. Digitalisation and Technology
Support for digitalisation amidst COVID-19
• The new SG Digital Office (SDO) will recruit 1,000 digital ambassadors
to help stallholders and seniors learn how to use digital payment tools.
(ST, Jun 1)
• The COVID-19 outbreak has made clear that digitalisation is no longer
an "optional extra" but a critical necessity for individuals and
industries to survive this crisis, said Communications and Information
Minister S. Iswaran. (ST, Jun 5)
• More than 3,500 businesses started digital transformation projects
this year from January to April, supported by Enterprise Singapore
(ESG). This is nearly 20% higher than in the same period last year. (ST,
Jun 5)
• Singapore owes its current digital readiness to groundwork that
started six years ago with the roll-out of Smart Nation plans that aim
for every resident going cashless, among others, said Minister-in-
charge of the Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan. (ST, Jun 22) SG Digital Office to help hawkers
ST
E-payment options
ST
11

12. Social
Mediation initiative
• The SGUnited Mediation Initiative will allow the Supreme Court to identify and
refer suitable cases to the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC). There, a neutral
third-party mediator will help disputing parties achieve a mutually acceptable and
amicable resolution. (ST, Jun 1)
Helping charities and the disadvantaged
• The Vulnerable-in-the-Community Network, formed in November, comprises the
Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), Central Singapore Community
Development Council and other non-profit organisations. It provides more
coordinated and integrated support for vulnerable individuals islandwide. (ST, Jun
19)
• The VWOs-Charities Capability Fund's Info-Communications Technology Grant
will now cover digital solutions in new areas such as volunteer management,
donor management and remote working, said Minister for Culture, Community
and Youth Grace Fu. (ST, Jun 24)
• Charities are holding their fund-raisers virtually to overcome the pandemic and
its restrictions on gatherings. The Singapore Children's Society, for example, plans
to take its family fun walk and carnival, online. (ST, Jun 9)
12
Helping the disadvantaged
ST
Supreme Court
ST

13. Social
Community assistance amidst COVID-19
• About 60% of households in Singapore will be able to receive extra benefits amid
the coronavirus pandemic. These include cash assistance from the Temporary
Relief Fund, COVID-19 Support Grant and Workfare Special Payment, among
others, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. (ST, Jun 6)
• Up to 400,000 lower-income Singaporean households will be able to collect $50
worth of vouchers in the coming months, thanks to the Community Development
Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme. (ST, Jun 12)
• The Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Foundation is donating $300,000 to the
Community Chest to support seniors, disadvantaged families and the disabled,
among others, as the coronavirus crisis enters its fifth month since the first case
was reported here on Jan 23. (ST, Jun 2)
• About 1,500 households in the South East District that have been hard hit by the
Covid-19 situation will benefit from a donation of $350,000 by non-profit
organisation Business China, and an additional $50,000 from South East
Community Development Council (CDC). (ST, Jun 9)
13
Residents in the neighbourhood
ST
Residents applying for assistance
ST

14. Health ramifications of COVID-19 and dengue
• Voluntary welfare organisation We Care Community Services
swopped in-person mental health sessions for video calls, and its
physical call centre for Amazon Connect, which allowed staff to
take calls from home and connect people with counsellors. (ST,
Jun 6)
• Regional COVID-19 screening centres will be set up progressively
across Singapore to help test vulnerable groups. A contact tracing
device will also be rolled out by the end of June, said the multi-
ministry task force. (ST, Jun 9)
• Every Singaporean who needs it will have access to a COVID-19
vaccine should one become available, said National
Development Minister Lawrence Wong. (ST, Jun 10)
• Dengue cases have hit a new high, with about 200 new cases a
day and two consecutive weekly tallies that exceeded all-time
peaks. The National Environment Agency (NEA) is expecting total
infections for the year to soar past the 22,170 cases recorded in
2013. (ST, Jun 24)
Staff of We Care Community Services
ST
14
Social
COVID-19 regional screening centre
ST

15. Support for families
• To help ease the financial burden of parents who have lost their
jobs, two student care centres run by the Singapore Muslim
Women's Association (PPIS) are offering three months' worth of
student care services for free. (ST, Jun 1)
• The SG Cares Community Network initiative will proactively
reach out to 50,000 low-income families living in rental flats, to
ensure no one falls through the cracks during the pandemic. It
will link families up to the help they need. (ST, Jun 3)
• The National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) has unveiled
a new brand mark - Made for Families - for organisations to
identify themselves as promoting the value of the family in
Singapore's society. (ST, Jun 24)
• About 3,200 more Housing Board lifts across Singapore will be
enhanced with better safety features such as high-tech sensors
to monitor the lift speed and an emergency communications
system this year. (ST, Jun 9)
The SG Cares Community Network
will send out SMSes to families
ST
15
Social
Lift upgrading at an HDB block
ST

16. Malay/Muslim Community
Minister’s Hari Raya Get-Together 2020
• Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli praised the Muslim
community here for responding to disruptions brought about by the pandemic
with unity, resilience and compassion. He highlighted how Muslims donated to
the OurMasjid.sg portal to sustain mosques. (ST, Jun 6)
• Minister Masagos also announced the establishment of the Wakaf Masyarakat
Singapura (Singapore Community Wakaf) by the Islamic Religious Council of
Singapore (MUIS) to financially support Islamic religious institutions, asatizah
development and community programmes. (BH, Jun 6)
• Two advisory panels have been set up to put forth recommendations on how to
galvanise community support and operationalise the implementation of the
Wakaf Masyarakat Singapura. Both advisory panels will be chaired by Mr Abu
Bakar Mohd Nor. (BH, Jun 20)
Korban 2020
• No livestock will be imported to Singapore for Korban this year due to the
COVID-19 outbreak, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said.
Instead, mosques in Singapore will facilitate arrangements to perform the
Korban in Australia. (BH, Jun 9) 16
Minister’s Hari Raya Get-Together
BH
OurMasjid.sg portal
MUIS

17. Malay/Muslim Community
Employment and Malay/Muslim community
• A working committee has been established to reach out to Malay/Muslim
workers affected by COVID-19. Chaired by Minister of State for Manpower and
National Development Zaqy Mohamad, the committee is made up of
representatives from M³ and Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (SMCCI). (BH, Jun 4)
• Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli participated in an online
dialogue session titled 'Hidup Bersama COVID-19', where he urged Malay/Muslim
workers to take advantage of skills upgrading opportunities. (BH, Jun 27)
New book on Singapore Malays
• A new publication on Singapore Malays has been published. Titled 'Beyond
Bicentennial: Perspectives on Malays', the book sheds light on the contributions
of the Malay/Muslim community since precolonial times. The publication is
edited by Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Mr Wan Hussin Zoohri and Dr Norshahril
Saat. (BH, Jun 27)
17
MOS Zaqy Mohamad
MCI
‘Beyond Bicentennial’ book
World Scientific