Faith in Singapore Leaders Hit by Record Covid Wave, Poll Shows
(Bloomberg) -- Singaporeans' trust in their government's ability to manage Covid-19 fell as community cases soared when the worst wave hit early last month, according to the Institute of Policy Studies.
The survey showed the proportion of people who believed the authorities had shown good political leadership fell to a low of 53% during Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, compared to around 70% in the July to early September period, results released Thursday showed. It has since improved to almost 60%. Older respondents were more likely to be disgruntled, amid constant reminders to vaccinate and avoid social gatherings, according to the survey.
“As Singapore carefully plans its next moves and learns to live with the virus, it must also balance the diverse needs of different groups with the overall needs of society,” the survey said. The IPS polled about 500 people during specific periods of the country's pandemic journey, such as when stricter measures were introduced to counter the virus spread.
The study also showed that those who trust the government's ability to lead Singapore in a post-pandemic world fell to almost 60% in the most recent period, over the July-to-November survey. Still, around 70% believed the country would win the fight against Covid-19. About 80% of respondents were satisfied about how authorities have kept the healthcare system running, the highest score in a category that polled sentiments toward communications, borders and other policy areas.
Singapore faces the challenge of reopening its economy as the omicron variant throws another curve ball into the virus fight. The ruling People's Action Party, which turned in its weakest parliamentary performance during last year's general elections, is also dealing with what has turned out to be its most complicated succession planning process.
Read More: Singapore Faces Biggest-Ever Succession Planning Challenge
Reopening, Social Measures
While infections in Singapore have stabilized since an all-time high in late October, the government has kept in place several social distancing measures such as mandatory mask wearing and limitations on gatherings. More recently, it said it would pause on further social easing and border reopening as a precaution against the omicron variant.
In the IPS survey, respondents were presented two options -- a slow opening if Singapore wishes to keep the Covid-19 death rate to about two per day versus a faster opening that could mean a daily death rate of about six or seven cases. At least 80% felt that Singapore should have a slower reopening with fewer deaths.
In addition, nearly 70% of those polled felt that the government should make vaccination compulsory for all Singaporeans and long-term residents. Slightly more than half felt positive about having differentiated rules for those who are vaccinated and those who aren't, the survey showed.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
-
Opinion | India at 38: From Innovation Overperformer to Innovation Powerhouse
India now has 453 VC-backed deep science startups, 18 of them late-stage, after 117 percent growth since 2020. Laurus Labs, at USD 9.3 billion, is the most valuable deep science company in any middle-income economy outside China.
-
Navigating Energy Crossroads: S Jaishankar's Call For Diversified Supply Chains At G20 Ministerial Meeting
As geopolitical fault lines continue to test maritime trade routes and commodity flows, Jaishankar's message remains pertinent: true economic resilience requires open markets, protected transit lines, and a genuine commitment to multilateral cooperation rather than coercion.
-
Indians Are Travelling, But Not Every Journey Is A Holiday | The Week In Whys
Pilgrims, patients and working women are the real travellers, and the system hasn't quite caught up with them.
-
Getting To Work Costs Women More | The Reason Why
It is not just about women paying more than men. It is about women paying much more in cities than in villages.
-
AI Bias In Investing Cannot Be Eliminated, But It Can Be Governed
Framing is a particularly important example as identical financial information presented in terms of gains rather than losses can lead an LLM to reach a different assessment.
-
Joining The Dots | Dark Skies, Steady Diya: Why Hope Holds This Diwali
With war, a weak rupee and foreign outflows weighing on sentiment, policymakers at the NDTV World Summit and market veterans at NDTV Profit Ignite: Diwali Edition offered the same advice: stay invested and filter out the noise.
-
The Curious Case of Equitas Small Finance Bank And A CEO Who Quit For Stock
PN Vasudevan believes persistent investor concerns over a perceived conflict of interest had become a governance overhang on Equitas Small Finance Bank's stock, even as the lender improved profitability and asset quality.
-
Talking Points This Week: AI Cash Burn, A Tiger Comeback And An India That Still Finds Its Own Path
India is not immune to higher oil or tighter global liquidity, yet its earnings base is broader, its domestic policy levers are still available.
-
Foreign Investors Own Half Of HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank. An LTCG Cut Could Matter Most Here
Foreign portfolio investors have US$115 billion parked in HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank. If the government cuts long-term capital gains tax, Jefferies says returning foreign money could land here first.
