Letter from Baba Colin Chee, President, The Peranakan Association Singapore
Dear Nyonyas and Babas,
Reflections On: COVID-19
For a moment, we could have lost it – our characteristic composure and common sense – as survival instincts stirred up a whirlwind of hoarding among some. Not to mention the gloating and shameless profiteering.
Yet in all these there is a silver lining. We can draw useful lessons about ourselves for the future as Singaporeans. And as a caring, united and responsible multi-racial and increasingly cosmopolitan community.
More importantly, we also saw good coming out of this experience. There were fellow citizens who queued to buy essentials not just for themselves but for families, friends and the less fortunate. Our relentless workers on the frontline remaining steadfast. For example, the two nurses who postponed their marriage to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their colleagues. There are many more such heartening stories waiting to be told, I am sure. Our unsung heroes.
Preparedness
The other good thing that stands out is the government’s extremely deft and balanced handling of the emergency. Let me share my observations as someone trained in emergency response. The government has been swift, deliberate, phased, confident, meticulous, extremely well-coordinated and clearly well-rehearsed: the superb communications (including the PM’s timely broadcast and the Gov.sg app), the control protocols, the general adequacy of essentials, dedicated facilities and trained personnel (including the investigative teams), and the security. In other words, the overall preparedness of an inter-ministry team to fight this emergency and the resolve to beat the virus while preparing for the worst. All part of our Total Defence preparedness initiative, slowly playing out. These must surely build public confidence.
Our Response
How can we, as an Association, respond?
We have been monitoring the situation as it evolved since the first case was reported in Singapore around the start of Chinese New Year in late January.
We had just completed a very successful pre-CNY makan tour in Johor led by one of Malaysia’s top food-bloggers, Tony of Johor Kakis. And we had several events in the pipeline each month from February to June, raring to go!
GC Deliberations
On Thursday 30th January, your General Committee met and decided on the following:
- We shall not put any of our members and guests at unreasonable risk.
- The GC believes that life has to go on. It is simple to just cancel or defer all events. But we do not think it is the right thing to do.
- Every event will depend on the situation as it develops, and the information available to us. Now that the alert has moved to Orange, we are deferring events for large groups. It means more work for us but it makes better sense.
- As such, events planned in March, April, May and June – except those that involve small groups – will be deferred. The small group events will carry on if enough members sign up. We will stringently apply the government’s recommended health and tracking protocols.
- Our Annual General Meeting scheduled on Sunday 26 April will remain in the pipeline until further notice. We continue to plan for it.
We cancelled a colouring workshop for our Junior members in February because, understandably, few responded. Our Sarong event coming up on Saturday 22 February has been heavily oversubscribed but we have decided to defer it because of recent developments. We shall give those who have already registered the first opportunity to decline when we fix another date for it. We are sorry for any inconvenience this deferment has caused to you.
Events to be held in March through to May include the inaugural Chakap Chakap forum on Pantuns and Dondang Sayang featuring Babas GT Lye, Chan Eng Thai and Cedric Tan; the popular tour of the Heritage Conservation Centre; a batik study tour of Cirebon, Pekalongan and Semarang, all in Java, Indonesia; and topical talks on our community and culture.
Two more events involving small groups will be announced in due time, unless the situation worsens.
Until I write to you again at end-February, we appreciate your understanding and patience.
Your GC and I wish you the very best of health. Rest well, build up your immunity with greens, fruits and water, avoid crowded places, be alert to what your body is telling you, and please do not delay seeing a doctor if you feel anything is amiss. Please exercise personal responsibility and think positive.
Blessings,
Colin Chee
Unity. Stability. Growth.
It is not going to be business as usual.
17 February 2020