The environment needs your support

Ong Dai Lin, dailin@mediacorp.com.sg

The vision is to create a “Sustainable Singapore” where limited resources will be used efficiently and innovatively — but community support is vital in making that a reality.

That was the message from Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), in his addendum to the President’s Address on Monday.

Technology and innovation are the keys in meeting new and emerging environmental challenges. And investing in new capabilities to reduce waste and control pollution can also “position Singapore as a global hub for environment and water solutions”, said Dr Yaacob yesterday.

But building a sustainable living environment “requires the support of the community”, noted the minister. Therefore, MEWR will reinforce partnerships with the People, Private and Public (3P) sectors to “strengthen shared ownership of our environment”.

To uphold high standards of public health and ensure good hygiene at food establishments, efforts to keep public premises litter-free will be stepped up.

Dr Yaacob also said MEWR will control pollution from industry and vehicles to ensure that Singapore’s air quality remains “among the best in Asia, and comparable with major cities around the world”.

The ministry will also expand the Active, Beautiful, and Clean Waters Programme to include more water bodies. ONG DAI LIN

From TODAY, News – Thursday, 21-May-2009

Blame ‘me first’ mentality for bad hygiene

btw:
ON SPITTING AND LITTERING

JILL ALPHONSO

THERE'S no better time to address social responsibility than now.

It's a big topic for the year, what with the economic crisis brought on by the neglect of bankers the world over, and with countries calling for more environmental awareness and action for everyone's sake.

And, now, the Influenza A (H1N1) epidemic is becoming a real and present danger.

But despite calls from our Government for people to be more diligent, to stay home if necessary and to take proper precautions when it comes to hygiene, I'm just not seeing it on the streets.

Just yesterday, I witnessed a young guy outside a coffee shop spitting into a drain just a few feet away from diners.

And call it bad fortune, but on more than one occasion over the past few days, I've seen people coughing in public areas without covering their mouths.

One man in another eatery I was in let fly with a God-almighty sneeze, with nary a tissue in sight. You can imagine where the by-products of that sneeze landed. Nowhere near me, thank goodness.

These are not new problems. Ask anyone and they'll tell you that incidents like these date back to Singapore's "Stone Age". Any "uncle" will gladly sneeze in your face any day, free of charge – you don't even have to ask.

Every week, I find dirty, balled-up tissues in cabs, stuffed into various nooks and crannies, forcing me to whip out a wet wipe to perform a ritual cleansing after accidentally encountering one of these discarded little "treasures".

And often have I seen people spit – after a good, long throat-clearing session – straight into trash cans, with all the expertise of a seasoned blow-dart professional.

Even without a potential flu outbreak, these acts would, more likely than not, cause others to fall ill. And let's face the facts: these days, it's getting clearer that, in the near future, such bad habits could potentially cost lives.

The root of the problem lies in the simple fact that Singaporeans remain tragically unaware of the impact they have on others.

I won't go so far as to say that we are a selfish lot in all areas, but there is a "me first" mentality that can, frankly, impair our judgment.

Ah, you might say, some people might not know any better.

I'm sorry, but I don't find that an acceptable excuse with World Health Organization warnings on pandemics flying about.

Plus, we've already experienced the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak in 2003, which infected 328 people in Singapore and killed 33.

You'd have thought we'd have learnt a thing or two from that little scare.

If there is anything to take away from that outbreak, it is that we all can play a part.

Back then, containment meant that people worked from home or simply had to stay home from work. Some were also quarantined in hospitals.

To my knowledge, many took such actions gladly. There was a call for stronger hygiene measures from everyone as well, which – according to reports – many followed.

Social responsibility means that everyone is accountable. That means you and me.

This goes for every issue, from playing one's part in being aware of measures to contain the flu pandemic, to recycling and saving energy for the betterment of the planet.

Let's start acting as if these things matter because they do – whether we like it or not.

In the long run, if every one of us adopts a more socially responsible attitude, we'd be able to build a better society – hopefully sans spitting.

myp@sph.com.sg

From myPaper, My News, Home – Tuesday, 05-May-2009

Flies in foodstall: Action taken by NEA

Letter from S Satish Appoo

Director, Environmental Health Department, National Environment Agency (NEA)

We refer to the letter “Flies make home in our eateries” (April 10).

Our investigations confirmed the presence of flies in the refreshment area of the foodshop at Sembawang Drive. The foodshop management has mobilised its pest control operator to locate and eradicate the fly-breeding sources. Our field officers have also extended their checks to the surrounding areas. The foodshop operator will face enforcement action should breeding be found in his premises.

During our inspection, food for sale was found to be properly covered. We have reminded the operator of his responsibility to ensure that crockery and cutlery are properly covered, and refuse properly bagged and disposed of.

We thank your reader for the feedback.

From WEEKEND TODAY, Voices – 18, 19-April-2009

‘We will be more vigilant’

NEA ON HAWKER CENTRE HYGIENE

Letter from Andrew Tan

Chief Executive Officer, National Environment Agency

I THANK all letter-writers and journalists of Today who have commented on the importance of maintaining high standards of public hygiene in our hawker centres following the severe incident of food poisoning traced to a stall at the Geylang Serai Temporary Market.

We at NEA are deeply saddened by this episode that is linked to more than 150 people falling ill, many acutely, with two losing their lives. Our hearts are with the affected people and the grieving families to whom we have extended our deepest condolences. The outpouring of concern rightfully shows the widespread sympathy we share for them as well as the high standards expected of our markets and food centres.

Maintaining Hygiene Standards

NEA has the overall responsibility for ensuring high standards of public health and hygiene in Singapore. We would like to assure the public that NEA will strive to uphold these high standards.

The current system for upholding public hygiene comprising legislation, surveillance, enforcement and public education has served us well. The number of food poisoning cases in Singapore is very low. Over the last three years, there has been an average of only four food poisoning incidents a year, even though we have 5,600 hawker stalls across 106 hawker centres.

Grading of Stalls

The grading scheme, introduced in 1997, was intended to motivate licensees to improve on their personal and food hygiene and upkeep of their premises. All stalls that are graded and allowed to operate meet the basic hygiene requirements. The grading scheme sought to differentiate and recognise those who made greater efforts to improve and sustain the cleanliness and hygiene of their operations. By making the grades public, it was hoped that consumers’ choice could also lend pressure to encourage hawkers to strive for higher standards.

NEA, on its part, also actively worked with stallholders to encourage them to improve, by paying more attention to those with lower grades. NEA facilitates upgrading courses so that food handlers gain the knowledge to raise standards.

Food stalls in hawker centres that are graded A and B are inspected every eight weeks, while stalls graded C and D are inspected more frequently — every six weeks. NEA uses a point demerit system to penalise foodhandlers for any lapses in maintaining good personal and food hygiene. When a food handler accumulates 12 demerit points in a year, his licence will be suspended for two weeks. This is how NEA keeps unhygienic stalls from operating.

This regime has led to a significant improvement in food hygiene levels in Singapore. Over the years, the proportion of Grade A and B stalls has increased from 46 per cent in 2002 to 86 per cent last year. The remaining 14 per cent of stalls are graded C and they meet hygiene requirements.

The grading and point demerit system, together with a regime of regular inspections, have helped to keep food poisoning incidence low. Notwithstanding, food poisoning incidents can occur in any food establishment, regardless of its grading, if there are lapses in personal hygiene.

Overall hygiene standards at hawker centres have also improved through the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme. Since 2001, a total of 72 centres have been upgraded with better facilities and toilets, among other improvements. The remaining 30 or so centres will be upgraded by 2012.

Cleanliness of Geylang Serai Temporary Market

When markets and hawker centres are being upgraded, grassroot organisations and their advisers can choose to have a temporary market which is not provided for under the government’s Hawker Centre Upgrading Programme (HUP). If so, they also carry the responsibility of keeping the temporary market clean to meet NEA standards. However, NEA will intervene if it assesses the need to do so in the interest of public health.

In the case of Geylang Serai Market, the Kampong Ubi CCC decided to build and manage the temporary market. Despite the best of efforts put in by the Temporary Market Management Committee in implementing its cleaning regime and in tackling the rat infestation problem, the problem persisted. NEA should have moved in firmly earlier to address this problem. Sustained efforts with NEA’s assistance and enforcement have now led to a marked improvement. NEA will continue to require the Management Committee to sustain ongoing cleaning and pest control efforts.

Greater Vigilance

Going forward, NEA will step up its vigilance and enforce higher standards of public hygiene on all food outlets. NEA will also conduct more refresher training on food and personal hygiene for stallholders and food handlers. We will further tighten up our own procedures to ensure the timely issuing and display of up-to-date grading labels.

To impress on the need for good hygiene practices by all and enhance understanding of the overall system, NEA will step up engagement of market managements and operators of food establishments, Public awareness efforts so as to also involve consumers in maintaining high levels of public hygiene at all times are also being looked into.

NEA will further improve on the current system, taking into account the useful feedback and suggestions thus far. We thank everyone for the valuable feedback and suggestions. We continue to welcome views at contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg and 1800-CALL-NEA (1800-2255 632).

From WEEKEND TODAY, Voices – 18, 19-April-2009

Not business as usual

NEO CHAI CHIN, chaichin@mediacorp.com.sg

AT MEAL times on a typical day, diners would swoop in on just-vacated seats at Geylang Serai Temporary Market. But it has hardly been business-as-usual, since the mass food poisoning almost two weeks ago.

Business has dropped by over 50 per cent, and yesterday afternoon, about half the food stalls were not even open. Because of bad business, Mr Nur Muhammad said the hawkers might have felt it was “better don’t sell than to sell”. The 27-year-old helps out at his mother’s cooked food and his aunt’s dessert stalls, which were open.

The hawker responsible, Mr Sheikh Allaudin Mohideen, has had his licence suspended and will be taken to court by the authorities. Two people died after eating his rojak and 154 were sickened.

At his Eunos Road 5 flat yesterday, Mr Allaudin, 70, said he could not comment on the charges until he is officially notified. He opened the door to Today with a young boy by his side and only spoke on condition that no photos were taken.

His fellow hawkers have voiced sympathy for him. Some felt that pressing charges against him is too harsh. Others said he should be held responsible for improper handling of food, but not for the deaths.

“I don’t think he intended for all this to happen. It could have happened to any one of us,” said drinks stall assistant Abdul Jaffar, 33.

Sundry goods seller Ong Tiong Gheu, 48, said the confiscation of his hawker’s licence is punishment enough.

But the hawkers are more worried about their own dismal takings. Mr Nur said that his aunt’s chendol stall made slightly more than $200 last weekend, much less than previous takings.

Many are also unhappy with the “C” grade hygiene rating they received last Saturday.

“We cleaned and did housekeeping before the National Environment Agency officers’ checks, but still got a ‘C’. More customers will surely be put off,” said chicken rice stall owner Mr Nor, 45.

From TODAY, News – Thursday, 16-April-2009