Following reports of a tree that fell near the Ulu Pandan Community Centre and injured three people, the three victims have since been reported to be in stable condition, with one of them already being discharged.

MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Christopher de Souza, said in a Facebook update yesterday that he had paid a visit to one of the victims who was discharged on Saturday.

Here is what he said

Made a personal visit this afternoon to the home of Mr Neo, an Ulu Pandan resident, who was thankfully discharged from hospital yesterday following his rescue from under the fallen tree.

I am greatly relieved he is alright and wants to get back running along the rail corridor as soon as possible – he has such an amazingly positive and optimistic attitude.

I have been kept regularly updated on the health and condition of the other two persons who are still in hospital. They are not residents of Ulu Pandan.

I am very thankful that they are in stable condition and recovering. I had wanted to visit them today but the hospital suggested a zoom session tomorrow instead due to SMM measures in hospital and, further, that they needed the Sunday to rest a bit more.

I can completely understand and will call them via zoom tomorrow.

This experience is a key learning point and I will chair a meeting early this week to learn how we can learn from it and put in measures to reduce the risk of repeats – such as ensuring the health of trees within our CC compound and studying the increased availability of access points for ambulances along the rail corridor.

Please be assured of my personal attention to this matter.

Recap

A tree had reportedly fallen at Ulu Pandan Community Centre yesterday, pinning two people under the tree while another victim was found injured nearby.

All three victims were conscious when sent to the hospital and are in stable condition, according to Channel NewsAsia.

The SCDF said that they were alerted to the unfortunate incident at about 6pm, at 170 Ghim Moh Road.

Officers from the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team were deployed and they had to lower themselves down a slope and went through the vegetation in order to reach the victims.

Two persons were found trapped under the large tree, with another person found injured nearby.

SCDF officers immediately began rescuing the victims after ensuring the fallen tree was stable and used cutting equipment to reach the two that were trapped.

Medical personnel were also on-site to monitor the victims’ vital signs, and K9 search dogs were also deployed to make sure there weren’t any other trapped victims nearby.

The incident is currently being investigated by Ulu Pandan Community Club, who is working to establish the facts of the incident.

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Images source: @afy.suave2 on TikTok, Google Maps and Christopher de Souza on Facebook

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke during his National Day Rally last night (21 August) and touched on the subject of leadership and his succession plans.

He said that Singapore has zero margins for error when it comes to leadership and that our very survival depends on it.

He also asked people to give his successor Lawrence Wong and his 4G team, the fullest support.

Snippet of his speech

Whether we are tackling COVID-19 and preparing for the next pandemic, dealing with geopolitical dangers and economic uncertainties, handling sensitive domestic issues, or planning and building Singapore for the long term.

With all these challenges, success depends on us getting three key master fundamentals right. We must always have a united people, a high-quality leadership team, and high trust between the people and their leaders.

A united people, a high-quality leadership team, and high trust between the people and their leaders. These are essential if we are to respond creatively and resiliently to challenges, year after year.

We may have the best laid schemes, but without these three fundamentals, they will come to nothing. I have emphasised these points over and over again, in different ways, because they are so crucial.

In particular, good leadership is non-negotiable. Look at the countries where governments are unstable and politics messy, swinging wildly from one election to another.

Whenever things do not work, leaders are forced out, or resign en-masse. But even after changing teams, things fail to improve.

Policies and laws either never make it through the political gridlock or they are made by one government and then reversed by the next.

Often, it is not just the leaders who disappoint, but the whole system that has failed. The result is a devastating loss of faith: not just in individual politicians or parties, but in the whole political system and the whole political class, and there is no way forward from there.

A small country like Singapore has zero margin for error. Not just Singapore’s continued success, but our very survival, depends on us having the right leaders.

Leaders with integrity, dedication, and competence; leaders with the conviction to make the tough calls and do the right thing, even when it may cost them some votes; leaders whom you can trust. We cannot afford any compromise on this.

Thankfully, for 57 years, over three generations, we have had leaders who have earned and maintained Singaporeans’ trust and confidence, who have worked closely with the people to deliver on sound policies, who have improved all our lives.

Never take this trust, nor this competence, for granted. Keep on working hard to find the right people, get them to serve, and help them to do their best for Singapore. It is our duty to extend our success formula into the next generation and beyond.

Leadership succession is therefore of paramount importance. When COVID-19 hit us, I had to put my succession plans on hold.

Now we are learning to live with COVID-19, and entering a new normal. The younger ministers have chosen DPM Lawrence Wong to be their leader. I am very happy that the matter is settled, and my succession plans are moving forward again.

I am also glad that from everything I see, Singaporeans are supportive of Lawrence and his leadership of the team. So I ask you to give Lawrence and his 4G team – your team – your fullest support.

The next few decades will be bracing but exhilarating. I have given you my take of what we can achieve, and also what may go wrong. But with your trust, we can come through whatever difficulties await.

With your support, we can turn hopes and dreams into reality, and united as one people, we can secure a brighter future in this uncertain world. Not just for now, not just for ourselves, but for every Singaporean child, for many generations to come.

Thank you and good night!

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during his National Day Rally last night (21 August) that mask wearing will soon be made optional both indoors and outdoors.

However, they will continue to be required on public transport and in healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.

Snippet of PM Lee’s announcement

Our Safe Management Measures (SMMs) have protected us well throughout the pandemic. We have adapted them to the changing situation, and gradually eased them as things stabilised.

Today, just two SMMs remain. You must wear masks indoors like you are doing unless you are on stage like me; and you must be vaccinated for higher-risk settings, such as F&B dining-in and large events.

With our situation stabilising, we will reduce the mask requirements further to prevent people from getting tired.

We will only require masks on public transport, where people are in prolonged close contact in a crowded space, and in healthcare settings, like clinics, hospitals, and residential and nursing homes, where there are vulnerable persons.

Everywhere else, outdoors or indoors, masks will be optional.

For schools in particular, we should not need masks in class. I know parents are a little bit worried, but I think there is no need to worry, we have assessed it, we think it is safe.

The children do need to be able to see the facial expressions of their teachers and of each other. You have to learn to read faces. Is he angry? Is he happy? Did he say ‘ter’ or ‘the’? ‘Ker’ or ‘ger’?

Otherwise you grow up with a blank space in your brain. It is crucial for their learning and development.

But please do not take off your masks this very moment. Please wait for the detailed announcement from the MTF.

Beyond these adjustments to SMMs, we must learn the lessons from COVID-19. One day, the next pandemic will come.

A new virus will emerge, more transmissible, more adaptable and more dangerous than COVID-19 and we must be ready for it.

The most important lesson is to maintain the spirit of personal and social responsibility, continue to nurture trust in our society, day in day out, during normal times, so that during the next crisis we can again draw upon a deep reservoir of trust to see us through, just like we have done during COVID-19.