Singapore Roundup: Shell heist, government vouchers, maternal health
Singaporeans to receive up to $850 in government vouchers
About 1.5 million Singaporeans will receive cash payouts of up to S$850 in August as part of the government's enhanced GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme. Announced during Budget 2023 by then-Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, the enhanced payouts will see eligible recipients receive an additional S$150 or S$100 compared to last year, Today Online reports. Adult Singaporeans with an assessable income of up to S$34,000 and living in homes with annual values up to S$21,000 will receive S$850, while those in homes with annual values between S$21,000 and S$25,000 will receive S$450. The total GSTV disbursement will amount to S$1.4 billion in cash payouts and Medisave top-ups, approximately S$200 million more than in 2023.
First Hawksbill turtle nest found after oil spill
A nest of eggs from the critically endangered hawksbill turtle has been discovered in East Coast Park, marking the first such find since a 400-tonne oil spill on June 14. The National Parks Board (NParks) confirmed the nest was found on June 23 and has since secured it to protect the eggs from predators, Straits Times reports. With the ongoing nesting season, which runs from May to October, researchers are keen to study the impact of the oil spill on this year’s turtle hatchlings. The hawksbill turtle typically lays more than 100 eggs per nest, with an incubation period of about 55 days.
Two former employees plead guilty to Shell Heist
Two former Shell employees have pleaded guilty to multiple offences related to the misappropriation of gas oil from the company's Pulau Bukom facility. Business Times reports that the two, Muzaffar Ali Khan Muhamad Akram, 42, and Koh Choon Wei, 40, were described as leaders in a conspiracy to steal gas oil worth nearly S$120 million and over S$101 million, respectively. Muzaffar made at least S$1.3 million in profits, while Koh gained at least S$1 million. The two will be sentenced on July 25. They are among several individuals linked to the oil heist, which took place between 2007 and 2018.
New ‘green light’ traffic priority system
Starting mid-July, ambulances transporting emergency patients to Ng Teng Fong Hospital will benefit from a new traffic priority system (TPS) unveiled by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The TPS provides ambulances with a “green light” path to the hospital, reducing delays at traffic junctions. Tests of the system at Ng Teng Fong Hospital and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital showed time savings of 30 to 100 seconds per trip, potentially improving patient outcomes. By 2025, TPS coverage will extend to several other public hospitals, including Changi General Hospital and National University Hospital, TNP Straits Times has reported.
Maternal and child health research fund
Three research projects focusing on maternal and child health, including one aimed at delaying ovarian ageing to extend fertility, have been awarded the inaugural Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund, Straits Times reports. The projects will receive up to $5 million over three years from 2024 to 2027. The fund was launched in 2023 to support research into medical issues prevalent in Singapore. The Tanoto Foundation, founded by Indonesian billionaire Sukanto Tanoto and his wife Tinah Bingei Tanoto, plans to set aside up to $5 million annually for medical research and will launch the next grant call in September.
