Marcus Ching (Page 372)

Therefore, Mr. Singh rephrased his question about how many applications were impacted by technical problems. Additionally, he asked for assurance that the October BTO exercise, which starts on Wednesday and lasts until October 10, won’t bring up any problems of this character.

How many candidates were impacted, according to Ms. Sim, was” rather difficult to define.”

We look at it in terms of the number of people who have contacted HDB for help because they were unable to finish their programs, she continued.” We do know that candidates experienced longer looking days.

According to Ms. Sim, these consumers could be divided into two groups: those who applied for selling flats and those whose HFE applications were urgently needed but were unable to be submitted.

She remarked that, to HDB’s knowledge, the” transitional arrangement” in May & nbsp, in which buyers only needed to indicate their intention to purchase a home and go through an initial HFE inspection, had not prevented buyers from participating in the sales launch at that time.

According to Ms. Sim, HDB has pledged to make sure that those who submitted their HFE programs and supporting documents before the end of August may obtain them in time to participate in the launch for the October sales release.

To maintain a more efficient flat-buying process, HDB has also” carried out more method improvements ,” she added.

Ms. Sim stated that the 21 days is a” service standard” and that approximately 31 % of applications submitted up until September 25 were processed during this time.

In addition to this, Ms. Sim highlighted the potential effects of the control and nbsp delay, including whether or not they led to, for example, applicants being unable to participate in the sales launch.

According to HDB’s information, candidates were not forced to miss out on the May BTO start, even if they received their HFE results after the 21 days, as I’ve already mentioned- because they have even been expediting the control and have made accommodations on their finish.

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SINGAPORE: After parliament passed amendments to the Societies Act on Wednesday ( Oct 4 ,), those wishing to establish new societies will be subject to more scrutiny.

Applications from newly registered societies may get turned down if it is determined that they could be used for illegal purposes or endanger Singapore’s safety.

In the course of involuntary subscription, the Registrar of Societies will also have the authority to ask these candidates for more information.

Since 2004, innovative cultures have registered using one of two methods: the automatic way for” non-specified” cultures and the regular way, which applies to vulnerable groups listed in the Schedule of the Societies Act.

The automated road, where cultures are registered as long as their program satisfies official needs like paying a set fee, will be affected by the modifications.

Specific societies, such as social associations, will continue to be screened and evaluated by the registrar under the standard registration process. This may necessitate some sessions of corrections.

The Bill even introduces additional amendments that clarify the registrar’s authority to refuse an application from a registered culture to change its name or rules as well as to demand that the new society amend its rules in order to be registered.

The revisions also update the Societies Act’s penalties, such as those that result from a culture official providing the registrar with false, inaccurate, or incomplete information.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

In her conversation tabling the Bill, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling stated that two gaps are being filled by adjustments to the automated subscription process.

Although the registration is not permitted to ask it, there are times when more details are required to ascertain whether an application under the automatic path actually does not fall into any delicate categories.

A new world may still be of concern even if it does not fall under the sympathetic category, but the registration has no power to deny such applications through the automatic route.

Ms. Sun used the fictitious example of a group of criminally inclined individuals who want to represent cultural pursuits to illustrate how these spaces can be exploited.

They make an effort to establish a society with an innocent goal, such as an interest group in history, despite the fact that they are aware that their software may be scrutinized.

The party then submits an involuntary application to create this community. Their program may be immediately accepted if the amendments weren’t made.

According to Ms. Sun, the Bill may improve the oversight of societies to protect national interests and safety and give the public more information about the registration requirements.

Problems RAISE FOR Legislators

Seven MPs from the House of Commons stood to respond on the Bill. They asked for clarity on the following topics:

• The process and standards the secretary will employ to determine whether societies are engaging in illegal activity or endangering Singapore’s security
• Whether the registrar’s authority over the laws of both new and established cultures is excessive
• Whether there are any strategies for addressing online teams created on the internet or in chat rooms

Mr. Gerald Giam( WP – Aljunied ) questioned the Bill’s necessity and requested examples from real-world societies that took advantage of the registration gaps.

He claimed that” groups today can simply organize themselves over closed chat groups and will likely avoid the hassle of registering a nation if it is made more difficult.”

He argued that the modifications might unintentionally push teams and their actions beneath.

Despite these worries, Lawmakers from the Workers’ Party and the People’s Action Party supported the Bill at the conclusion of the discussion.

RESPONDS OF THE GOVERNMENT

According to Ms. Sun, elements like applicants’ backgrounds, the societies’ proposed activities, and the nature of their international relations will be taken into account when evaluating applications through the automated path.

She claimed that the registrar’s authority over the laws of both new and established societies does not imply that it has unrestricted judgment. Decisions made by the registrar has” have a link” to the Societies Act’s goals.

She remarked that there can be simulated and informal groups. She added, however, that they are unable to do things like opened a bank account or hire property without the help of an object, which will probably limit their ability to draw users.

Ms. Sun stated that the amendments were necessary because they were a regular part of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ ( MHA ) regular review of Singapore’s laws and regulations.

Three programs to the involuntary way, according to her, raised questions because the applicants had some criminal history. She did not give specifics citing functional sensitivity.

These three candidates did not pursue their uses for unknown reasons.

According to MHA, there haven’t been any applications to type societies that were quickly approved, which she said should not have been.

About 1,400 applications to form societies have been submitted to the recorder over the last five years. The automatic path was used for about half of the submissions.

53 of all uses received over the previous five years, or 3.7 percent, were turned down.

The ministry anticipates that the majority of applications submitted through the automated registration route will be approved without further review, despite the amendments, according to Ms. Sun.

She added that once the changes go into effect, legitimate applications submitted through the automated course won’t have to wait as long for approvals.

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SINGAPORE: The value of the assets and income involved keeps increasing as investigations into the billion dollar money laundering sensor go on.

When police made the case public in the middle of August, they calculated that it involved$ 1 billion( US$ 730 million ).

Then, prohibition of disposition orders was issued against 94 properties and 50 vehicles, and police also seized over & nbsp, S$ 10 million from more than 35 bank accounts, cash, over 270 pieces of jewelry, as well as 250 comfort bags and jewellery.

However, Josephine Teo, the second secretary for household affairs, revealed in a statement made in parliament on Tuesday( Oct 3 ) that more than S$ 2.8 billion in assets and nbsp, or almost triple the initial amount, are then connected to the event. & nbsp,

The most recent break is as follows:

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The success rate for breast cancer was only about 50 % in the 1970s. However, the survival rate has now increased to 80 %. Ultimately, there is a significant difference in treatment supply, which has increased the survival rate, according to Dr. Choo.

” We can detect tumor even before it becomes aggressive when the cancer is diagnosed at period zero ,” according to some studies. These patients don’t require any treatment at all; they only require a cancer or surgery.

WHO, AND HOW OFTEN, SHOULD GO FOR Mammography?

Mammography screenings for women between the ages of 40 and 49 are usually advised once a year to look for any potential breast cancer, with the suggested frequency dropping to once every two years for those over 50.

Screening examinations are Medisave – reimbursable for people 50 and older.

Mammogram screenings are not required for those under 40, but women of all ages are encouraged to self-examine their breasts once a month to look for abnormalities like fresh lumps, sore spots, changes in skin look, or breast discharge, according to the BCF.

Free encouraged health screenings, which include breast cancer, are available to Singaporeans who enroll in Healthy SG, the federal healthcare strategy with a focus on precautionary care.

Screening subsidies are also available through the Health Promotion Board’s( HPB ) Screen for Life program for women 40 years of age and older.

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Mr. Singh questioned why the current increase was so much shorter than it was prior to the most recent price revision in 2017. Additionally, he inquired as to whether there was room to postpone an improve. & nbsp,

Is there any room, in terms of policy, for the authorities to postpone this increase in order to protect the authorities’ financial gains from water and water supply?

Dr. Khor retorted that because of the mentioned cost pressures, the cost of producing and supplying waters has exceeded existing water prices, necessitating a price revision to guarantee PUB’s ability to effectively protect operating costs and keep funding water infrastructure. & nbsp,

In response to Mr. Singh’s question about profits, Dr. Khor said:” If you look at the financial statements of PUB, net operating income was S$ 10 million in 2020, but in fiscal year 2021, it is – S$ 109 million and has actually widened to$ 264 million.”

While she noted that it has improved as a result of government grants, she also added that any online income that was generated was ploughed again and reinvest to cover the water system’s operating costs, but it was insufficient. & nbsp,

To finance long-term infrastructure projects, PUB had to borrow money from the market and issue bonds, such as S$ 800 million in green bonds last year. & nbsp,

Therefore, there is no income. According to Dr. Khor, everything is basically used or reinvested. & nbsp,

Mr. Singh posed the next query,” Will the government reevaluate the value of the water conservation tax?” & nbsp,

One of the three elements of water sales is a liquid conservation tax; the other two are tariffs and contaminated taxes. The waters conservation taxes, which is a portion of the price, is intended to promote water preservation. This time around, private and non-domestic drinkable water will see an increase in all three parts.

Mr. Singh questioned the value of the water conservation taxes in comparison to the execution of more water-efficient features in the home and stated that home water consumption designs have been declining.

In order to promote a lower consumption of water and achieve the goal that the government is aiming for with regard to making sure that every Singaporean views the initial decline of fresh water as an extremely limited source, Mr. Singh stated that” water efficiency features are”‘ a more powerful policy tool. & nbsp,

He questioned whether water useful features were a more likely source of household water savings or whether the water conservation tax was serving the policy purpose for which it was intended. & nbsp,

Both were required, Dr. Khor retorted. & nbsp,

The water conservation tax is actually intended to encourage consumers to use water correctly as well as to reflect the value of water scarcity.

Mr. Leong enquired as to whether it was possible to replace the two-tier pricing with many bands. & nbsp,

This is more equitable because, as you stated, larger consumers in the non-household industry may account for the majority of the future increase in water consumption, he said. & nbsp,

For every 1,000 gallons, or per cubic meter, before tax for the majority of households, potable water now costs S 2.74( US$ 2.01 ). & nbsp,

Now, communities that use more than 40 cubic meters per month must pay an additional S$ 3.69 per cubic meter. Less than 4 % of homeowners would this, Dr. Khor noted in her response to Mr. Leong. & nbsp,

She continued by saying that each month, the typical household uses approximately 15 cubic meters of water.

She stated that the higher charges was intended to encourage people who use more water to” use water wisely and save water.” & nbsp,

Mr. Leong further enquired as to whether the government could vouch for the fact that the cost of obtaining water from local sources was entirely factored into the present waters pricing. & nbsp,

If so, you Singaporeans anticipate that the ocean price won’t increase significantly after the Johor water supply agreement expires in 2061, barring any unanticipated changes in ingredient costs, such as energy?

Dr. Khor retorted that Singapore uses a combination of sources, including NEWater, imported water, and native catchment to assure water security. & nbsp,

” When I say the cost of producing the second drop of water, we also consider investments, particularly long-term opportunities to meet future water need.” And that will take into account the fact that there will be an increase in water demand, necessitating the investment of new abilities, she said. & nbsp,

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