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: 1. Singapore's economy will grow by 5.5 per cent in 2021, putting an end to the nation's worst recession ever. 2. The first shipment of Covid-19 vaccine has arrived in Singapore on 21 Dec 2020. 3. The new COVID-19 Recovery Grant, which will be launched on 18 Jan 2021, focuses on lower- to middle-income workers and self-employed people. 4. Three new M³@Towns has been announced to be established in 2021. They are M³ @ Geylang Serai, M³ @ Bishan-Toa Payoh and M³ @ Jalan Besar.

1. December 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 211 articles, Community (37), Health (32) and Education (31) news were widely
reported in December 2020. This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over social issues arising
from COVID-19 and the healthcare developments to curb COVID-19.
25
20 19 20 20
15
4
12 12 12 10 10 11
21
37
32 31 30 30
26 25
Community Health Education Technology Governance Employability MMA
No. of Articles
ST BH/BM Total
3

4. Emerging Themes & Trends
4

5. Economy
Economic Outlook
• Singapore remains key for investments in S-E Asia. Enterprise
Singapore: New funding for start-ups still flowing in despite
Covid-19 challenges. (ST, 7 Dec)
• Singapore economy tipped to grow 5.5% next year: MAS
survey (ST, 10 Dec)
• Singapore’s fintech investments hit $371m in Q2: Report (ST,
10 Dec)
• Median income of Singapore residents fell for first time since
2004 due to Covid-19 (ST, 4 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
5

6. Economy
Support for Businesses
• Small businesses hit by Covid-19 pandemic can renegotiate
contracts for 6 weeks from mid-Jan. (ST, 10 Dec)
• Decline in retail sales slows in October. But positive year-on-
year growth unlikely till 2021; most areas still see double-digit
fall. (ST, 5 Dec)
Support for Tourism Sector
• SingapoRediscovers vouchers give tourism sector $1.86m
boost on first day of redemption. (ST, 1 Dec)
• Singapore to host World Economic Forum (WEF) next year.
(ST, 8 Dec) Tourism, events sectors to get a boost from WEF
meeting. (ST, 9 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
6

7. Employment
Employment Trends
• Non-PMETs hit harder by Covid-19 with steeper rise in jobless
rate than PMETs: MOM (ST, 3 Dec; BH, 3 Dec)
• One in five Singapore employers to ramp up hiring in 2021:
Survey (ST, 8 Dec)
• Some Human Resource jobs at risk of being replaced by
robots in next 5 years: Study (ST, 10 Dec)
• Close to 5,500 jobs available in Singapore's healthcare sector;
three in four are long-term positions (ST, 10 Dec)
• Job vacancies in Singapore rose for first time this year in
September (ST, 17 Dec)
• Foreigners made up nine in ten of Singapore's total
employment decline in Jan-Sept (ST, 17 Dec)
• More Singapore workers to be recruited for solar industry (ST,
17 Dec)
• Singapore job market shows signs for optimism in 2021 but
some sectors will remain in doldrums: NTUC chief (ST, 21 Dec)
• Seconding workers to other sectors helps retain talent for the
long term: SNEF president (ST, 21 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
7

8. Employment
Support for Jobseekers
• Microsoft is partnering with authorities and a non-profit group
to train and offer tech job opportunities to up to 1,000
Singaporeans as part of the SG United Jobs and Skills Package.
It is targeted at fresh graduates and mid-career Singaporeans.
(ST, 10 Dec; BH, 10 Dec)
• More than 3,000 jobs on offer in financial services, with nine
in ten for PMETs. They make up 57 per cent of the nearly
5,200 jobs, traineeship and attachment openings available in
the sector as at end-November. (ST, 17 Dec)
• 47,000 locals placed in jobs in 6 months, exceeding National
Jobs Council target. Six in 10 or 27,280 of the job placements
were in long-term positions. (ST, 17 Dec)
• More than 95,000 Singapore employers received over $1
billion in wage credit payouts this year; next payout in March.
(ST, 22 Dec; BH, 23 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
8

9. Employment
Support for Vulnerable Workers
• Jobs Growth Incentive Scheme (JGI) to support companies
employing local workers in this Covid-19 pandemic, will be
expanded to encourage employers to employ ex-offenders as
well. (BH, 5 Dec)
• The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has set up two
new associations to represent freelance and self-employed
individuals (FSEs) - specifically for creative content
professionals and delivery riders. (ST, 11 Dec; BH, 12 Dec)
• Cab, private-hire drivers to get higher payouts from next year
under new scheme. Main taxi hirers and full-time private-hire
drivers in the P2P transport sector will get $600 per vehicle
each month between January and March next year, up from
$300. (ST, 16 Dec; BH, 16 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: ST
9

10. Employment
Support for Vulnerable Workers
• A new scheme will be introduced to help Singaporeans and
permanent residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The
COVID-19 Recovery Grant, which will be launched on Jan 18,
focuses on lower- to middle-income workers and self-
employed people. (CNA, 16 Dec)
• The Income Assistance Scheme for Self-Employed Individuals
(SIRS) has distributed $1.8 billion in aid to nearly 200,000
eligible Self-Employed Individuals (SEIs) between April and this
month. (BH, 17 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: ST
10

11. Education
Education Trends
• Students here again topped maths and science in global study.
They lead rankings for third time, in a study of 72 education
systems at Pri 4 and Sec 2 levels. (ST, 9 Dec; BH, 9 Dec)
• N-level results: 78% of students qualify for Sec 5. It is the
highest proportion since promotion criteria were revised. (ST,
17 Dec; BH, 18 Dec)
• Dr Faishal is proud of GCE 'N' results of prison students. Of the
68 Normal (Academic) students who sat for the GCE Level 'N'
examination from prison, 53 managed to achieve five passes.
(BH, 21 Dec)
• Dr Maliki: It is important for students' academic and non-
academic achievement to be recognized so that they realize
that their efforts and contributions are appreciated by the
community. (BH, 21 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: BH
11

12. Education
Strengthening Support for Students
• MOE unveils four main strategies to prepare students for
post-Covid-19 environment. It will maximise opportunities for
disadvantaged students and build multiple pathways for
students for them. (ST, 3 Dec; BH, 4 Dec)
• School fees unchanged for Singaporeans, PRs next year; small
rise for non-Asean foreign students. (ST, 9 Dec; BH, 10 Dec)
• 7 special education schools to progressively operate at
permanent sites from 2022. This is part of the Ministry of
Education (MOE)'s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility to
Sped for students with moderate-to-severe special
educational needs. (ST, 10 Dec; BH, 11 Dec)
• MOE will ensure greater alignment of gender and sexuality
education across schools and institutions (ST, 21 Dec)
• Schools will distribute TraceTogether tokens to students (ST,
23 Dec; BH, 24 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
12

13. Education
Strengthening Support for Students in IHLs
• New NUS college to admit first cohort next August. College of
Humanities and Sciences will take in over 2,000 undergrads
and aim to encourage flexibility in educational path. (ST, 9 Dec;
BH, 9 Dec)
• ITE to offer six more work-study diploma courses. The new
courses are aircraft cabin engineering, aircraft maintenance
engineering, cloud management and operations, event
management, fitness management and opticianry. (ST, 9 Dec;
BH, 9 Dec)
• Ngee Ann Poly and UOB launch campus incubator to nurture
start-ups and spur student entrepreneurship (ST, 11 Dec)
• Hostel residents at four Singapore universities to get free
Covid-19 testing in January (ST, 13 Dec; BH, 13 Dec)
• New committee to look at how higher learning institutes can
adopt design education to solve problems (ST, 24 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
13

14. Health
COVID-19 Updates
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests here to stay despite
rise in rapid tests, say scientists (ST, 8 Dec)
• Singapore-made Covid-19 test kit using saliva ready for use
(ST, 12 Dec)
• First shipments of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Singapore by
end-Dec; enough vaccines for all by Q3 2021 (ST, 14 Dec)
• Covid-19 vaccines will be free for Singaporeans; vaccination
recommended but voluntary for adults (ST, 14 Dec; BH, 15
Dec)
• 47 per cent of migrant workers in Singapore dorms have had a
Covid-19 infection, say Manpower and Health Ministries (ST,
15 Dec)
• First shipment of Covid-19 vaccine arrives in Singapore on SIA
flight from Brussels (ST, 21 Dec; BH, 22 Dec)
• Lawrence Wong: Details of Covid-19 vaccine program in
Singapore may be known next month (BH, 22 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: BH
14

15. Health
Developments in Healthcare
• Preparing for Disease X: Singapore to boost defences against
future outbreaks in post-Covid-19 world. Under the new
Prepare programme, Singapore will work closely with other
researchers in the region. (ST, 11 Dec)
• Singapore to pump record $25 billion into research. This
includes a programme to help nation respond nimbly to future
infectious diseases. (ST, 12 Dec)
• Singapore will continue to invest in health, biomedical
sciences: DPM Heng (BH, 12 Dec)
• SingHealth: Patients with chronic health conditions such as
diabetes have shown increased willingness to take up
telemonitoring, a trend which is needed to help curb rising
morbidity and mortality in Singapore's ageing population. (ST,
15 Dec)
• Government accepts MediShield Life Council's
recommendations: MOH. From March next year, the benefits
offered by MediShield Life health insurance plan will be
expanded increasing the annual policy claim limit to $150,000.
(ST, 21 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: BH
15

16. Health
Mental Health
• Singapore has to step up efforts to protect children's mental
health early: President Halimah (ST, 2 Dec; BH, 3 Dec)
• Five schools recognised for efforts in improving mental
health. They were Nanyang Technological University, River
Valley High School, PSB Academy, Singapore Management
University and Singapore University of Social Sciences. (ST, 11
Dec)
• Obsession with Covid-19 news linked to higher risk of anxiety:
Study (ST, 17 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: BH
16

17. Health
HIV
• New HIV cases this year likely to dip below 300 for first time
since 2003 (ST, 1 Dec; BH, 1 Dec)
• Singapore surpasses two out of three UN goals on HIV. About
91 per cent of those diagnosed with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) here are receiving sustained
antiretroviral therapy for it, and 91 per cent of this group have
suppressed the virus. (ST, 7 Dec)
Dengue
• Number of dengue cases falls to lowest level: NEA. There
were 228 reported, about seven times lower than the peak of
1,792 cases in July. (BH, 18 Dec; ST, 19 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: ST
17

18. Community
Social Assistances
• CDAC pledges a record of $36m to support needy (ST, 7 Dec)
• Social support to be stepped up to help ex-offenders
reintegrate into society (ST, 11 Dec)
• 8,000 residents of South West rental homes will receive
celebration packs and frozen bento sets (BH, 12 Dec)
• 25,000 students benefit from 'Share-A-Textbook' project (BH,
13 Dec)
• New $25 million initiative to help people with disabilities and
boost public education efforts (ST, 18 Dec)
• 400 households in East Coast GRC receive energy-saving light
bulbs (BH, 20 Dec)
• Automated vending machine dispenses dried food, hot meals
for needy in Zhenghua (ST, 21 Dec)
• Jamiyah records 8,700kg of sacrificial meat to over 2,500
families (BH, 21 Dec)
• Heal Club extend services to help individuals facing addiction
issues (BH, 23 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: BH
18

19. Community
Support for Senior Citizens
• National Heritage Board launches art therapy trial to stimulate
memories for seniors (ST, 4 Dec)
• Seniors here will be able to receive services and take part in
programmes at 280 eldercare centres across the island from
next year, when current centres consolidate their services to
cater to all elderly people, regardless of their income or frailty
levels. (ST, 8 Dec; BH, 8 Dec)
• Pilot programme at Geylang East Public Library helps seniors
access public services. About 50,000 seniors have been
reached through the Seniors Go Digital Programme and the
goal is to reach 100,000 seniors by March next year. (ST, 23
Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
19

20. Community
Environment
• Two new parks will be part of a nature corridor that connects
the Central Nature Park Network and the future Tengah Forest
Corridor. (ST, 8 Dec; BH, 8 Dec)
• New Mandai Nature Fund to boost wildlife conservation
efforts and fight climate change in Singapore and the region
(ST, 8 Dec)
• Cutting carbon a new focus area for Singapore under five-year
research masterplan (ST, 11 Dec)
• 'Eco Boards' to track residents' utilities use launched at five
HDB blocks in Tampines (ST, 12 Dec)
• More than 1,000 pre-schoolers to learn about environmental
conservation in virtual programme (ST, 18 Dec)
• A total of 100 trees will be planted at the Discover Tanjong
Pagar Community Green over the next five years, under the
Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) pilot Business
Improvement District (BID) programme (ST, 19 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: ST
20

21. Community
Arts, Culture & Heritage
• More than 2,000 Chingay performers gear up for next year's
digital parade (ST, 10 Dec)
• Cross-Cultural Institute established to foster unique identity
of Singapore (BH, 14 Dec)
• Singapore's hawker culture added to UNESCO list of intangible
cultural heritage (ST, 16 Dec; BH, 16 Dec)
• Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) continues to support local talent
(BH, 16 Dec)
• Over 400 attend biggest live concert in Singapore since circuit
breaker (ST, 18 Dec; BH, 20 Dec)
• Exhibition of painting, visual works of local artists at Wisma
Geylang Serai (WGS) (BH, 18 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
21

22. Community
Local Tourism
• Singaporeans out and about on first weekend after launch of
vouchers (ST, 7 Dec)
• Six in ten willing to spend beyond the $100 value of
SingapoRediscovers vouchers: ST poll (ST, 19 Dec)
• Fireworks at 11 heartland locations to usher in the New Year
(ST, 24 Dec) Source: ST
Source: ST
22

23. Malay/Muslim Community
Mosques in Singapore
• En-Naeem Mosque, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque and
Ahmad Mosque is scheduled to open on 5 Dec (BH, 4 Dec)
• MUIS: All mosques to call the adhan for Friday prayers at
12.50pm (BH, 5 Dec)
• 5 mosques to provide 5 Friday prayer zones to accommodate
250 worshipers from Dec 11. The five mosques are Al-Islah, Al-
Istighfar, Darul Ghufran, Assyafaah and Al-Khair mosques. (BH,
7 Dec)
• Starting January 1, 13 more mosques will offer three zones
with each for 50 worshipers for each Friday prayer session.
Five more mosques will offer four zones, also to accommodate
50 worshipers each. In addition, a total of 22,500 prayer
rooms are available at local mosques starting this New Year.
(BH, 19 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: BH
23

24. Malay/Muslim Community
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS)
• MUIS launches donation portal to help madrasahs (ST, 4 Dec;
BH, 4 Dec)
• Mufti assured that the use of the Covid-19 vaccine is allowed
based on religious teachings and Syariah and urges Muslims to
get Covid-19 vaccination (BH, 15 Dec)
• MUIS distributes year-end zakat of $3.01m, helps 6,407
families, an increase of 11 percent as compared to last year.
(BH, 24 Dec)
Source: ST
Source: ST
24

25. Malay/Muslim Community
• Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI)
works closely with the community to ensure wedding
ceremonies do not violate Covid-19 restrictions. This includes
organizing online and offline training as well as providing
dedicated lines to assist businesses and prospective couples in
planning their events. (BH, 3 Dec)
• Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI)
is ready to assist companies to shape the direction of the
local arts and empower their business ventures. (BH, 16 Dec) Source: BH
Source: BH
25

26. MENDAKI
• M³ rallied various community aid initiatives, including jobs
and career support at the heart of this Covid-19 pandemic as
well as learning assistances for children. (BH, 23 Dec)
• Almost 16,000 residents have benefited from 80 efforts
organized in all eight M³@Towns over the past two years.
These include four areas of focus - strengthening families,
increasing support for prisoners and families, empowering
youth as well as employment and labour. (BH, 27 Dec)
• Three M³ agencies channel employment opportunities for
the affected. MENDAKI Sense has helped 3,500 job seekers
Malay/Muslim community, with 650 of them have been
successfully employed. (BH, 27 Dec)
• Three new M³@Towns will be established next year as the
network continues to reach out to the community and
residents through its program. They are M³ @ Geylang Serai,
M³ @ Bishan-Toa Payoh and M³ @ Jalan Besar. (BH, 27 Dec)
Source: BH
Source: BH
26

27. Published by
MENDAKI Research and Planning Department
(December 2020)
27