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. The fight against COVID-19 has entered a new phase as the Singapore government unveiled the comprehensive vaccination programme for the people. 2. Despite a challenging year, Singapore’s economy has received $17.2 billion in fixed asset investments in 2020. 3. The ninth M3 town in Geylang Serai was launched on 23rd January. Wisma Geylang Serai seeks to be a pillar of support for the community as it plans new initiative such as promoting lifelong learning and healthy lifestyle Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.

1. January 2021

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 289 articles, Community (32), Health (50) and Education (32) news were widely
reported in January 2021. This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over economic and social
issues arising from COVID-19.
• Additionally, across the three newspapers (The Straits Times, Berita Harian and Berita Minggu),
many articles shared on the vaccination programme that was rolled out by the government in
January 2021.
20
30
20 20
25
18
4
12
20
12 10 10 11
25
32
50
32 30
35
29 29
Community Health Education Technology Governance Employability MMA
No. of Articles
ST BH/BM Total
3

4. Emerging Themes & Trends
4

5. Economy
Economic Outlook
• Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing has unveiled a 10-
year plan for Singapore’s manufacturing sector to grow by
50% and maintain its share in Singapore’s gross domestic
product. (ST, 5 Jan)
• Singapore attracted about $17.2 billion in fixed asset
investments in 2020, despite weathering its worst recession
since independence as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. (ST,
21 Jan)
• Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said that Singapore’s
economy is likely to stage a slow recovery in the second half
of this year following the global vaccination programmes. (ST,
12 Jan)
Minister Chan Chun Sing at a visit to an
Engineering Company
Source: ST
DPM Heng at theat The Straits Times
Global Outlook Forum
Source: ST
5

6. Economy
Impacts on Businesses
• More than 20,000 businesses took up $17.4 billion in loans
from March to December 2020. (ST & BH, 9 Jan)
• Pasar malam vendors turn to permanent stalls as Singapore's
night markets at standstill. (ST, 24 Jan)
• Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) media business continues to
suffer from lower advertisement revenue due to Covid-19
disruptions for the first quarter ended Nov 30, 2020. (ST, 19 Jan)
• Digital business such as Halalfoodhunt has managed to grow its
revenue due to its strategy to embrace digitalization in its daily
operations. (ST, 27 Jan)
Support for Tourism Sector
• Singapore Tourism Board reviewing eligibility of hostels with
private facilities for use of vouchers as more merchants join the
voucher scheme. (ST, 11 Jan)
• Singapore Tourism Board reported more than 300,000
Singaporeans have spent their SingapoRediscovers vouchers. (ST,
6 Jan)
Pasar Malam vendor
Source: ST
Visitors at SENTOSA’s S.E.A. Aquarium
Source: ST
6

7. Employment
Employment trends
• A new manufacturing facility set up here by chemicals
company DuPont will create new high-skill manufacturing
jobs in the energy and chemicals industry, said Minister for
Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on January 13th 2021. (ST,
13 Jan)
• MOM reported that the food services sector is continuing to
pick up speed with its hiring, with over 9,200 job openings
posted as at end-December on the MyCareersFuture portal.
(ST, 24 Jan)
• Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Mr Tharman
Shanmugaratnam said that employers should be willing to
hire, reskill and upskill mature workers, who already have
significant skills. (ST, 13 Jan)
• Singapore’s resident employment increased for the second
consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter of 2020. The
rebound brought employment to pre-COVID-19 levels. (ST,
Jan 28)
Retraining of older workers should be
encouraged according to Mr Tharman
Source: ST
Manpower Minister visited a food service
firm
Source: ST
7

8. Employment
Employment Support and Programmes
• 28,000 jobseekers have been matched with jobs by NTUC’s
job security council. (BH, 9 Jan)
• Preliminary estimates found that around 50,000 local
jobseekers were hired by about 14,000 companies in
September under a scheme to encourage firms to boost their
manpower plans. (ST, 24 Jan)
• 29 Trade associations and business chambers pledge support
for fair hiring, employment practices. (ST, 19 Jan)
• DBS Bank’s Future Tech Academy will groom its tech talent
and enhance the skills of its nearly 5,000-strong tech
workforce. (ST & BH, 8 Jan)
• Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is exploring
measures that will be designed to allow people in arts and
sports sectors to gain skills that could sustain them in a post-
pandemic world. (ST, 20 Jan)
NTUC’s Secretary General, Mr Ng Chee Meng
Source: ST
8
DBS’s Future Tech Academy grooming
digital skills for its employees
Source ST

9. Education
Education Trends
• Education Minister Mr Lawrence Wong said that there would
be an increase in pathways for students to further their
studies making traditional degree route less relevant. (ST, 18
Jan)
• E-learning would remain as Covid-19 changes education
landscape in Singapore. (ST, 16 Jan)
• SIT reviewing its curricula by emphasising on interdisciplinary
learning so they can pick up skills beyond their specialisations.
(ST, 4 Jan)
• The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) is setting up a cyber
security training facility to teach students how to protect
critical industrial and manufacturing equipment from being
hacked.(ST, 21 Jan)
• Singapore Polytechnic (SP) is ramping up industry training as
part of its Industry Now Curriculum launched in 2020. (ST, 19
Jan)
Education Minister Lawrence Wong
Source: ST
Institute of Technical Education increase
its efforts to educate its students in IT
Source: BH
9

10. Education
Students’ Results in Major Examinations
• Students who sat the O-level examinations in 2020 saw
marginal improvement from the previous year, with 85.4 per
cent of the cohort attaining five or more passes. (ST, 11 Jan &
BH, 12 Jan)
• 97% of the 2,228 students in Singapore who sat for the IB
diploma exams in November 2020 have passed it. The
passing rate was about 6% higher than the rate reported for
the Asia-Pacific region. (ST, 4 Jan)
Students’ Results in Major Examinations
• Minister Maliki said that MOE will monitor and extend help to
students affected by domestic issues. (BH, 5 Jan)
• More than 13,000 students from the National University of
Singapore (NUS) have downloaded, NUS career+ app, a mobile
application that helps them to secure a job. (ST, 25 Jan)
• Etonhouse Foundation has launched “Teacher Anywhere”, a
training programme that trains volunteers to teach students
from disadvantaged backgrounds. (BH, 10 Jan)
National Examination Results
Source: ST
10
Minister Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman
Source: BH

11. Health
COVID-19 Updates
• On 24th January 2021, Singapore has reported 48 imported
cases of COVID-19 which was the highest number of daily
imported cases since March 2020, (ST, 25 Jan)
• All seven Integrated Shield Plan (IP) insurers are extending
coverage to Covid-19 vaccination complications that result in
hospitalisation. (ST, 25 Jan)
• Covid-19 vaccines used in Singapore are likely to remain
effective against new variants of the coronavirus, including
recent strains detected in Britain and South Africa. (ST, 24 Jan)
• MOH announced new restrictions to prevent a resurgence in
virus transmission ahead of Chinese New Year. (ST, 23 Jan)
• The Ministry of Health (MOH) will appoint a vendor to set up
36 Covid-19 vaccination centers from February 2021. (ST, 19
Jan & BH 14 Jan)
New restrictions during Chinese New
Year
Source: ST
Vaccination
Source: BH
11

12. Health
Mental Health
• During a panel discussion organised by Singapore Kindness
Movement, Associate Professor John Wong Chee Meng said
employers should consider putting in place flexible working
arrangements to promote mental wellness among employees
as more of them return to the office amid the outbreak. (ST,
14 Jan)
Senior Citizens’ Health
• Up to 1,000 residents aged 50 and above can register online
to visit a telemedicine booth at the Punggol 21 community
club, where they will be checked for eye, cardiovascular
diseases, diabetes and obesity. (ST, 10 Jan & BH, 11 Jan)
• Researches found that four in five Singaporeans aged 65 and
above who do not eat enough protein are at risk of
malnutrition and have low muscle mass, making them prone
to injury and falls. (ST, 15 Jan)
Singapore Kindness Movement panel discussion
Source: ST
Health Screening at Punggol 21
Community Centre
Source: ST
12

13. Community
Social Assistances
• Ministry of Social and Family Development is also looking into
how it can encourage more divorced parents to enroll
themselves and their children in the Children in Between
programme run by divorce support specialist agencies that
equips children with skills to manage their feelings and
develop resilience. (ST, 5 Jan)
• The Community Chest's virtual concert raised over $2.7
million for more than 80 social service agency beneficiaries
on 9th January 2021. The money raised will help vulnerable
groups such as children with special needs, as well as
underprivileged seniors and families. (ST, 9 Jan)
• A group of Americans living in Singapore distributed more
than 300 care packs to needy families at rental blocks. (ST, 18
Jan)
• Organisations and booking platforms have been working to
help Singaporeans "donate" their SingapoRediscovers
vouchers to the underprivileged since December 2020. (ST,
17 Jan)
ComChest virtual Concert 2021
Source: ST
American Chamber of Commerce and the
American Association of Singapore
distributing care packs
Source: ST
13

14. Malay/Muslim Community
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS)
• On 20th January 2021, MUIS will organise a discussion forum
on COVID-19 vaccination programme. The discussion will
focus on issues relating to the permissibility of the vaccine
for Muslim use and its risks. (BH, 16 Jan)
• Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah’s student, Abdul Hakam Nor
Razak, became the madrasah’s top scorer for the International
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) after he has
managed to score 42 out of the maximum 45 points. (ST, 10
Jan)
Wisma Geylang Serai
• Multi-purpose space, Anjung @ Wisma Geylang Serai, will be
ready in 2021. The space allows the public to use it for
activities such as sports and wedding receptions. (BH, 23 Jan)
• Three key landmarks in the Geylang Serai district will be
redesigned by architects as part of a competition organised by
Singapore Institute of Architects. The competition aims to
transform Geylang Serai into a vibrant cultural precinct.
• The recently launched M³ @Geylang Serai will unveil
initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles, lifelong learning and
building a caring society for its residents. (ST, Jan 23)
Discussion forum on vaccines by MUIS
Source: SalamSG TV
Abdul Hakam Nor Razak scored 42 points
for hi IBDP
Source: ST
14

15. MENDAKI
• MENDAKI will unveil the improved Family Excellence Circle to
help more family members of inmates and ex-offenders .
According to Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MENDAKI,
Mdm Zulaiha Yusuf, the strengthened Family Excellence Circle
programme aims to provide targeted help to such families.
(BH, 11 Jan)
• MENDAKI Tuition Scheme will be enhanced for students to
get help in more subjects and benefit from mentoring from
this year. (BH, 21 Jan and ST, 22 Jan)
• A previous student of MENDAKI Tuition Scheme, Mr Dhia
Luthfi, said that he received strong support from his peers
and teacher when he attended MENDAKI Tuition Scheme in
2019 for his English and Mathematics subjects. His results also
improved after he attended the tuition sessions. (BH, 15 Jan)
• MENDAKI’s Education Trust Fund has started the Pledge a
Book initiative for its beneficiaries. Since its launch in 2nd
December 2020, the initiative has collected $4,200 in
donations. (BERITA, 19 Jan)
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of
MENDAKi, Mdm Zulaiha Yusuf
Source: BH
Mr Dhia Luthfi who attended MTS in
2019
Source: BH
15

16. Published by
MENDAKI Research and Planning Department
(January 2021)
16